Beauty Haul | Mac, Zoeva, Stila & Pixi

It's been ages since I posted a beauty haul over on the bloggles.  I must admit I've been quite controlled with the ol' purse strings over the past few months even though I'm waaayy overdue a little splurge, but I still seem to have accumulated a few bits and bobs (I'm a beauty addict after all).  On a recent weekend away in Liverpool/Chester, me and the boy ended up having a mooch around the Cheshire Oaks shopping outlet.  I'm not sure if any of you have ever been (really recommend!) but I was very much a fat kid in a sweet shop around the beauty store they have there.  They had lots of discounted beauty goodies including the likes of Mac, Bobbi Brown and Smashbox to name a few - and I have to say I really did have to restrain myself.  I think i deserve a pat on the back as I only walked away with a couple of Mac bits but let's just say - if I hadn't have had a little inward chat with myself about my bank balance, the results could have been disastrous! Anyway, here's some of the newest additions to my makeup stash this month...

Mac // Pro Powder Blush Pan in "Taupe' // Link

I'm swiftly running out of my beloved Illamasqua Contour palette and have been after a similar shade of blush for a while now.  I saw Mac's Taupe and knew it would be the perfect replacement. Again, I picked this up cheaper than the £15.00 it costs normally so it was a complete bargain!  It's a gorgeous contour colour which is just perfect for carving out those cheekbones and I know I'll get a tonne of use from it.

Mac // Eyeshadow in 'Woodwinked' // Link

Why on earth I haven't owned this shade before now I will never know - but Woodwinked is such a cult beauty blogger favourite and I'm chuffed to bits to finally have it in my collection.  I bought this to create a brown smokey eye look with on a recent evening out in Liverpool and it's so perfect. It's a lovely antique gold sort of shade which brings so much definition to the eye area.

Mac // Pro Longwear Paint Pot in 'Groundwork' // Link

I got this for £10 instead of the usual £15.50 at Cheshire Oaks.  I have to say it's never really been a main item on my wish list but after a quick swatch, I knew I had to have it in my life.  It's a gorgeous neutral beige/taupe colour with just a hint of sheen and is the perfect shade for everyday wear.  I've used this non-stop since I got it and I can just tell I'm going to get a tonne of wear from it.  It's so versatile too as it can be worn completely on its own or as a base for a smokey eye or to keep powder shadows locked in place for longer - which is exactly why I love the Mac paint pots, they're so long-lasting!  It's great to use on days I'm at work as it's so quick and easy to apply - I don't even need a brush as all it takes is a quick smudge/blend motion across the eyelid and I'm sorted for the whole day. Love it!

Zoeva // Luxe Petit Crease Brush // Link

I've had my eye on this brush for ages now.  It's perfect for creating precise definition in the crease of the eye and it blends eyeshadow like a dream.  It's so soft and easy to use.  The Zoeva brushes have received quite a lot of praise for a while now and I can totally see why - I really can't wait to purchase a set of them! I love the fact that each individual brush you buy comes in a little pouch too - so handy if you're taking them away with you on holiday.

Stila Smudge Sticks in 'Stringray' & 'Lionfish' // Link

After my smudge stick in 'Damsel' finally died a death, I set about finding a replacement as I simply cannot live without it.  It's more or less impossible to find the shade in the UK unless you purchase the 'In the Light' palette which is how i discovered it in the first place.  'Lionfish' seemed the closest match - a lovely dark brown with a hint of gold sheen running through it.  Usually I prefer a matte finish to my liners but to be honest, you can hardly see the shimmer in it once applied so it works really well for me and I'm totally in love with it.  I also picked up 'Stringray' - the matte black shade - as I'm partial to a black liner when I'm going for the smokey eye look.  I really do love the Stila smudge sticks - if you're after an eyeliner which doesn't fade, bleed or make you resemble a panda at the end of a long day then I really recommend giving them a whirl.

Pixi // Endless Silky Eye Pen in 'Black Cocoa'  // Link

Like i said previously, I've been on the hunt for a replacement for Stila's Smudge Stick in 'Damsel'. Pixi is by far the closest match I've found - it's a beautiful deep brown/black shade.  I love shades like these for the daytime as it's just slightly less harsh than black and seems to work better with my skin tone.  It's the first time I've tried these Pixi liners and I have to say I'm completely hooked! They're so incredibly soft and smooth to apply - super pigmented and really long-lasting.  They resist smudging really well too.  Worth every penny - I'll definitely repurchase.

Swatches L-R //  Mac Groundwork // Mac Taupe Blush // Mac Woodwinked  // Stila 'Lionfish' // Stila 'Stingray' // Pixi 'Black Cocoa'

So there we have it - just a few little treats I've picked up this month. The best purchase by far has to be Mac's 'Groundwork' - it's one of those products that doesn't look much in the pan but once you have it, you question how you ever lived without it! 

Have you tried and loved any of these products?

Makeup Revolution Buys | Mini Reviews & First Impressions

When I first heard of Makeup Revolution, I have to say I was rather intrigued.  I tried so hard to resist the temptation but the inevitable happened and I finally caved.  I think it has to be the eyeshadow palettes that are to blame for my shoddy willpower - there's so many to choose from and all of them look absolutely beautiful. I try not to buy too many palettes as there's only so many one girl can use, however, when I saw range I simply had to have a cheeky browse. Not only do the colours look so well put together and well presented, but all of the Makeup Revolution products are super affordable - perfect for a pre-payday treat or a little pick-me-up now and again.  I actually went into my local Superdrug store to have a good ol' swatch and a proper look at the collection instead of ordering online and I'm so glad I did. It was like a beauty blogger's dream sifting through all the palettes and I spent ages looking at all  of the singular eyeshadows too.  Here's what I ended up with (believe me I'm incredibly proud of myself for walking away with just 3 things - I could have easily just picked the entire stand up and took that to the till instead but I don't think the staff would have been too impressed...)

The 'Essential Mattes' Palette | £4.00 | Link

The first thing I went for is this gorgeous palette containing an array of neutral matte shades.  I'm loving my matte eyeshadows at the moment as I find them much more natural and easier to wear in the daytime.  I quite liked the look of some of the lighter shades - particularly the yellow/peach toned ones as I find they work well as a base.  I was also drawn to the lovely mid-brown shade and the two lilac-browns next to it.  The palette is of a really good size (when i saw them online i imagined it to be a similar size to the MUA ones) and you actually get quite a lot of eyeshadow in each pan despite them being quite thin.  Admittedly, they aren't quite as pigmented as I'd hoped and some of them are a little hit and miss, but it's a fabulous palette nonetheless and I've really been enjoying using it.  The darker colours seem much more pigmented and less chalky but the majority of the shadows seem quite soft and smooth - for £4.00, you can't really go wrong.  I've since found they apply a little easier with a primer.

Nail Polish in 'Adore' | £1.00 | Link

Never one to say no to a nail polish, me. Especially when it's just £1.00! For £1.00 I have to say the packaging for these polishes is really lovely.  It's of a really good size, feels weighty and looks the part.  'Adore' is a beautiful mid-purple shade - really wearable, girly, and enough of a statement without looking too 'full on'.  The pigmentation is really good - all you need is 2 coats to get a good, even finish.  The only thing that struck me is that the brush can be quite streaky so you have to concentrate when you're applying it to avoid too many brush marks, however, this is easily solved as soon as you apply a glossy topcoat.

Vivid Blush Lacquer | £3.00 | Link

So far, I think this has to be my favourite product from the bunch. In all honesty, I don't usually get along with strongly pigmented cream blushes like this, but I'm really quite fond of this one.  It's lovely and creamy, and it's easy to dispense a very small amount due to the styling of the pump (you really don't need much at all).  I usually prefer a powder blush but I've been favouring a creamy consistency recently as my cheeks have been a little dry.  It's moisturising enough to create a dewy, fresh finish but not so much so that you end up looking greasy - I also like that it doesn't go completely matte and powdery on the skin too - it's just a nice, 'in-between' sort of finish. You only need a small dot of the product to blend into the cheeks so this will last you absolutely ages.  I reckon I'll do a full review of this with swatches soon.

All in all, some fabulous buys from Makeup Revolution - they certainly won't be my last! I can't wait to pick up some of the singular eye shadows, bronzers and blush palettes soon and I'm quite intrigued by some of their lipstick shades too (typical Beth!) I must apologise for the lack of swatches - I'll probably write up some full reviews of these products soon so keep your eyes peeled for those! You can have a browse of the Makeup Revolution range on their website here and they can also be found on Superdrug and in selected stores.

Have you tried anything from Makeup Revolution? What's your favourite product?

Beauty Haul & Mini Reviews

I keep trying to convince folk that I'm attempting to curb my spending habits and put a cap on my ever-expanding collection of cosmetics. Psssh...Who am I kidding?  If anything I'm just as bad as I've always been - making up all sorts of excuses for the odd lipgloss...the 'cheap' treat here and there or that really 'unique' nail polish that I actually have 50,000 dupes for already.   I'll use my recent holiday as one excuse - after all, I did pick up 2 of these items in the airport before I boarded the flight and duty free money doesn't count as 'real' money, right? Everybody needs a little pre-holiday cosmetic purchase to kick-start the sunshine spirit don't they?! Ohhh I give up convincing myself that my impulsive habits have changed... In celebration of my spending ban fail, here's a beauty haul...

Seventeen | Instant Glow Bronzer in 'Medium Bronze' | £4.49 | Link

I picked this up at the airport as a 'back up bronzer'.  I mean, come on, who needs a bloody back up bronzer for an 11 night holiday?! What was my other one going to do? Sprout legs and tottle off to the nearest beach?!  I must have got caught up in the duty free frenzy as I threw this into my basket along with 'emergency' paracetamol (of which I'd already packed in my suitcase) and a miniature sized mosquito spray - typical! My shoddy willpower aside, it's actually a really good bronzer and one that I'm so glad I discovered on a whim.  In fact, I've been using this over my high-end favourites just recently as my new 'all over' bronzing product.  I love it.  It's definitely not one you'd use as a contour due to the warmer tone but for all over bronzing, this is a drugstore winner.  It instantly helped to deepen and darken my tan whilst adding a subtle, healthy glow. It's fairly matte - which is another plus point for me as I usually find cheaper bronzers are far too shimmery. It's also really well pigmented, soft and easy to blend and isn't chalky or powdery in the slightest.  Honestly, I think I've uncovered a complete gem here - well done Seventeen!

Rimmel | Stay Matte Long Lasting Pressed Powder in 'Peach Glow' | £2.99 | Link

Ohh how everybody seemed to rave about this powder a while ago. It was my first port of call when I caught a glimpse of myself in an airport mirror and realised I needed a little bit of a spruce up! I'd packed my trusty Mac powder in my suitcase so unless I wanted to arrive in Greece looking like I'd already spent a day at the beach, then I needed an emergency powder session - pronto! (what is it about airports and being whisked through security that sends your skin into a complete meltdown?! Or is this just me?) I settled on this cheapy and it did the job just fine (I bought a little sponge to use on the plane as it doesn't come with one).  I wouldn't say its a holy grail powder like some claimed it to be - but for on the go and for a cheap pick-up, it was pretty good. It's quite chalky so I tried not too apply too much, but it did a smashing job at keeping shine at bay and it actually came in handy at night when humidity took its toll on my skin.  If you struggle with shine on holiday, aren't fussed about extra coverage but want something that instantly mattifies (but don't want to spend the earth on a new powder), head over to the Rimmel stand! I opted for 'Peach Glow' but to be honest, it doesn't have any colour pay off at all so it wouldn't matter too much which shade you picked up.

Anastasia Beverly Hills | Dip Brow in 'Medium Brown' | £15.00 | Link |

I won't say too much about this as I already provided my rave review earlier in the month. You can find that here if you fancy an in-depth read up as to why I love it so much. I decided to pick up a darker colour (I bought 'Blonde' originally) as I discovered that there had been a selection of new colours released in time for A/W2014 (you may remember in my last review I mentioned the lack of shade choice so I'm very happy to see there's now a couple more to select from!)  To be honest, this is probably a little too dark for me - I was swayed by the name 'Medium Brown' but it's much darker and deeper than the name would suggest. However, all is not lost. I find this works well at defining the arches of my brows (i like them to appear darker anyway) and the product also doubles up as an eyeliner! It's incredibly long lasting and my 'Blonde' pot proved to be a holiday hero for me - I even popped some on around the pool as I wanted to see what this stuff was made of (typical curious blogger!) and I still had eyebrows at the end of a day of sunbathing. Impressive and so worth the £15.00 price tag.

Boutique at Sainsburys | Lipgloss in 'All the Tea in China' | £6 | 

I cannot find a link but here's a little bit about these glosses on the Sainsburys blog here (who'd have thought Sainsburys actually have a blog?! Such hip-cats!) After seeing these lipglosses on a few blogs recently, I decided I simply had to try one for myself.  I settled on a nude shade called 'All the Tea in China' (I do love a versatile beige!). I have to say I'm impressed so far - the consistency is very similar to Tanya Burr's glosses and very wearable. The pigmentation is also pretty tip-top and I almost wish I'd been brave and gone for a slightly darker colour (they have some gorgeous corals and pinks!).  The colour is maybe a little bit too nude for me - but I've taken to wearing it over my darker browns and brighter lipsticks to tone them down a little bit.

Tanya Burr | Lipgloss in 'Exotic Island' | £6.99 (cheaper on All Beauty) | Link

Oh noes. Look what happened. I only went and bought another shade from Tanya Burr's lipgloss collection didn't I?! If you're a lipgloss hater, then trust me when I say it's well worth looking into these.  Before I tried them, I hardly ever wore lipgloss but I'm 100% converted after trying these.  I have a full review post on my blog here so I won't say too much but I bloomin' love them.  I really wanted this bright, blue toned pink as I thought it would be lovely now that I have a bit of a tan (I also have a blazer and nail polish to match - got to love a bit of outfit/lipgloss/nail polish co-ordination now and again!) I wore it yesterday and am 100% head over heels in love. Ahh...

Nars | Sheer Glow Foundation in 'Punjab' | £30.50 | Link

Ouch - my fourth re-purchase of my favourite foundation - definitely comes as a blow to the ol' purse strings but it's definitely worth the dent in my bank account! Again, I won't say too much as I already have full review here, but I do love this foundation (the fact I'm on my 4th bottle speaks volumes!) Now that I have a tan, my everyday shade is far too light for me so I picked up the shade darker which is called 'Punjab'.  I was actually going to buy a shade darker than this one, but Nars shades can be very strange and I actually find 'Punjab' than the next shade up? Maybe it's just me - but this suits my newly tanned skin much better and because it isn't too much darker than my usual shade, I'll be able to get away with it once it fades a little too (there's always fake tan...) This one has a slight peachy-yellow undertone to it that works very well with my summer skin tone.

Swatches L-R: Boutique Lipgloss | Tanya Burr | Anastasia DipBrow | Seventeen Bronzer | Nars 'Punjab'

And there we have it - my recent beauty buys coupled with some short and snappy reviews.  There's a couple of products here that will probably be reappearing on the bloggles shortly when I put together my next monthly favourites post.  I'm so glad I discovered the Seventeen bronzer and the new lipglosses have definitely gone down a complete storm with me!

Have you tried and loved any of these products? Is there anything here you fancy picking up for yourself?

Beauty Buys | Summer Holiday Haul!

There's nothing like getting a holiday booked is there? Not only does it instantly make you feel much more chipper but it's enough to cause any sane woman to go crazy amongst the 'summer beauty' aisles of Boots.  Which is exactly what I did as soon as I knew. All of sudden, you realise just how much stuff you haven't got. And when you're a beauty blogger - let me tell you we ain't just talking the basics of sun cream and a tub of aftersun. Oh no. We're talking the right shades of concealer, the right lip colour, the right powder to keep our makeup in place on those warm, balmy evenings and the right combination of hair products to keep summertime frizz to a minimum (anyone else have the same issue as Monica from Friends as soon as they step off the plane? *for those of you who get this reference - gold star for you >*) Anyway, rambling aside, I thought it would be the perfect excuse to shove together a holiday-themed haul. If any of you are jetting away soon, it might give you a few ideas. If not - well, I hope you enjoy having a nosey at what's been thrown into my shopping basket of late anyway...

Mark Hill | Va Va Voom Mousse (travel size) 

Me and this mousse get on like a house on fire. Honestly, if you skip through the past 3 years of my blog you'll probably see it pop up a fair few times - I've never really used any other (true love right there). It's thick enough to make a difference with volume but its light enough not to weigh it down - it also never seems to turn my hair into straw.  I'm sure it's not the best mousse ever, but for me, it works and I always make a beeline straight for it whenever I need a new one.  It's hard to track down the travel sizes as they always seem to be sold out - so I actually grabbed two! One for my holiday and one for a trip to London next week. I cannot be without it.

Scwarzkopft | Got2B Beach Matt Texturising Salt Spray

This was actually on offer and I got it for less than £2! To be honest, Im not sure if I'll be able to take it away with me as I'm usually bang on my weight limit (typical over-packer) - I could probably do with a smaller size but either way, I really wanted to try a salt spray again.  I used a Tony & Guy one last year and i found it came in so handy over the summer months - I can't wait to see what this one is like as I've always got on well with Got2B products! Bargain!

Garnier | Ambre Solaire Tan Maintainer

If you buy one thing this summer - make it this! I've been recommending this product on my blog for about 3 years now - I go through countless tubes of the stuff every year and I'm yet to find anything quite as good (If you don't like the hint of fake tan element then I'd recommend Lancaster Tan Maximiser - my other must-have!).  People always ask how I maintain my tan after a holiday and it definitely has something to do with this. If you want to find out why I love it so much I speak about it in a favourites post here. I also give it a mention in my 'tan maintaining tips' post here.  It's around £8 in Boots but I found it on offer in Tesco for 2 for £8 - so shop around!

Soap & Glory | Flake Away (travel size)

I always exfoliate before I go away so that my natural tan will last longer. I bought my favourite Soap & Glory scrub in miniature form to pop in my suitcase. I usually use it as soon as I get there just to give myself maximum tanning possibilities (is that sad? ahaha)  If you've never tried this scrub you honestly don't know what you're missing.  It makes the chore of exfoliating seem a breeze! And a very sweet smelling one at that!

The Balm | 'Bahama Mama' Bronzer

Now then.  You can only imagine my disappointment when I realised my beloved Nars 'Laguna' is almost completely gone right before I go away on holiday.  Sods law, isn't it? The thought of purchasing another made me wince a little - so, in true blogger style, I took this as my chance to try something new.  I spent ages looking online and settled on this one from 'The Balm' - I've always quite fancied trying some of their stuff and the packging really caught my eye. As well as being rather eye-catching, it's also really neat and compact and fits perfectly in the palm of my hand - something I always try and look for when I'm taking products on holiday with me as I aim to cram in as much as physically possible. It's actually slightly darker than Nars Laguna - which to be honest is perfect for me as I really do tan quite a bit on holiday! I'm planning on doing a full post on this soon along with a Nars comparison so keep your eyes peeled for that!

Bourjois | Bronzing BB Cream

I wanted to try this ever since I used Bourjois' Bronzing Primer last year (review of that here). When I'm on holiday I usually don't wear a scrap of makeup in the day as I find it so uncomfortable, but I thought this might be quite nice if I go on a day-trip somewhere and want to give my skin some coverage without completely masking it.  I'm not opening it until I'm there so I shall let you know my thoughts as soon as I'm home but I'm predicting that it might just become a summer staple... We shall see!

Urban Decay | 'De Slick' Makeup Setting Spray (travel size)

I've wanted to try one of these sprays for aaaages now! I finally caved and bought the travel size - perfect for popping in your suitcase. This one is said to help combat shine, absorb oil, keep your skin looking matte and your makeup in place all night.  When I'm abroad I always struggle to keep my makeup looking flawless in the evenings and I don't even have oily skin! I've been road testing this the past few days and I have to say I've noticed such a difference.  I went to powder my face half-way through the day and realised I actually didn't need to - which is saying something to say how muggy it's been just recently! I shall be doing a full review of this when i'm home - i already have high hopes for it.

Estee Lauder | Double Wear Concealer

OK. So I didn't actually buy this for the sake of my holiday but it's my holy grail concealer and I simply cannot live without it.  It covers blemishes, dark circles and pigmentation with ease and it lasts all day without fail. Even if you do top up through the day its so creamy that it never goes cakey - I adore it.

Elf | Complete Coverage Concealer Palette

I just realised I didn't photograph this separately but you can spy it in the collective image at the top.  This is a re-purchase for me and for less than a fiver, this kit really is the bees knees. What I love about it is the fact it has 4 different shades - there's 2 shades with peachy undertones (perfect for under eye circles which is my main area of concern) and 2 which lean more yellow which work for general sprucing up and blemishes.  I actually ran this palette down to the pan last time I bought one so it just goes to show how much I love it. It doesn't last all day but it's perfect for a quick fix and the colours are very creamy and very well pigmented. Because my skin is going to get darker in the sun, it's handy to have the slightly darker shades in there as well. I have a post on it here so you can see the colours in more detail. 

Mac | Lip Pencil in 'Spice'

After my beloved Estee Lauder Lip Pencil in 'Spice' ran out - I set out on a mission to find something similar.  I stumbled upon this Mac pencil with the same name and it was love at first swatch.  This is incredibly long lasting and is the perfect browny-nude - very 90s chic so it isn't for everyone but I find it works really well with my skintone.  I find it a fabulous, long lasting alternative to lipstick and it's much more versatile.  When I go away, I always pack far too many lipsticks so I'm thinking of picking up a few more of these as they're much more makeup bag friendly.  If you're not a fan of the finish then gloss on the top looks a-ma-zing! (for the record... Benefit's 'Hoola' lipgloss looks stunning with this - together they've become my new dream team!)

Barry M | Eye Liner in 'Kingfisher'

What is this?! COLOUR?! On the eyes?!?! Was I feeling alright?! I never wear colour on my eyes so to say this is pushing it for me is an understatement. Blame Pinterest. I saw someone use a colour like this on their bottom lash line and I instantly wanted to give it a go. Personally, I think with a tan and a smudge of peachy-gold eyeshadow on the upper lid I might be able to pull it off. If i don't, it was only £3 anyway but it's such a beautiful colour - just look at it, looook atttt ittttt...

So there we have it.  My latest beauty buys. It's fair to say I feel as if I need a break away this year - 11 nights of relaxation and time to ponder over the next chapter of my life whilst digging my toes into the sand in Crete seems like just the ticket right now. If you've been reading my blog for a while, you'll know I live for holidays and trips away so I really do love this time of year! I'm also planning on grabbing a late deal on a few days away in Marbella with my best friend but I'm not sure my savings account can take it... Who knows though, I might just have a 'YOLO' moment ;) We haven't been away together since we were 19 (I'm now almost 24) so some quality best-friend time in the sun is waaaay overdue!

What are you holiday 'must haves'? Have you tried any of these products before or is there any that you'd like to hear more about? Let me know!

HUGE Beauty Haul | Drugstore & High-End Products

Oh dear. Look what happened.  Once again, I strolled past the beauty counters one too many times and came home with more than I anticipated. #StoryOfMyLife.  Fear not, I didn't go completely bonkers and buy all of this stuff in one go - (jeez I'm not that impulsive ;)) but I do seem to have accumulated a rather sizeable amount of stuff over the past 3 weeks.  Of course, being a blogger - I can't use anything properly until I've photographed it so I figured I'd swiftly put together a haul post. Who doesn't love a haul? I know I certainly do! I have a mixture of high-end and drugstore products so I've tried to categorise this post as best I could - feel free to skip on through and pick and choose the bits you're interested in til your heart's content. Expect to see a few of these beauty treats popping up on my blog over the next month or so - I'll be individually reviewing some of them so do let me know if there's anything you'd particularly like to hear more about.  Anyway, I guess I should quit my rambling and actually get cracking. Grab a cuppa, this certainly won't be a post of the 'short and snappy' variety...

Tanya Burr | Lipgloss in 'Chic' | £6.99 | Link

I've had my beady eyes on Tanya's range for quite some time now.  Admittedly, I'm really not a lipgloss person, but after seeing them on so many blogs and, of course, being a fan of the lovely lady herself, it would have been a crime not to give them a whirl! After a bit of umming and arring and some rather in-depth swatch-googling sessions, I settled on 'Chic', a beautiful brown-y nude shade with a hint of peachiness - perfect for everyday wear and for applying over the top of my neutral lipsticks. First impressions are really good - it's ever so slightly a little too sticky for my liking but I'm happy to overlook it for the gorgeous pigmentation and beautiful scent (I adore the sweet, strawberry smell!).  It applies really smoothly and easily too. I'm definitely going to be picking up some of the brighter shades in the near future.

Nyx | Xtreme Lip Cream in 'Peach Fuzz' | £7 | Link

When I discovered that Next stocked Nyx, I was over the moon! If you've always wanted to try the brand but prefer to swatch in-store rather than taking your chances online, it's the perfect excuse to give them a go.  I've been a big fan of their cream blushes in the past so I had high expectations for their lip products. I've always wanted to try one of their ever-famous Lip Creams so that's exactly what I came away with. 'Peach Fuzz' is one of the most talked about shades and it's easy to see why.  It's a stunning peachy pink with intense pigmentation and a slight glossy finish.  I'm planning on a full review of this soon.

Barry M | Lip Liners | £2.99 each (unsure of shade names!) | Link

Barry M had one of their offers on so I picked up a couple of bits.  I got one of these lip liners free - which in hind-sight is a very good thing because I picked the two most similar shades I could have possibly picked! My beloved Estee Lauder double-wear lip pencil in 'Spice' is running low so I wanted to see if I could find a cheaper option for the time being (i reckon my Estee favourite will be a birthday present.) Barry M had these 2 nude shades so I picked up both.  One is slightly darker and more reddish in tone - very much a 'brick' sort of shade, and the other is a little more neutral and leans more towards a brown, mid-toned natural shade.  I really like the Barry M lip liners - I must have the majority of their shades now and I really recommend them if you're after a cheapy!

Sinful Colors | Nail Polish in 'Snow Me White' | £1.99 | Link

If you've never checked out the Sinful Colors range in Boots, then you need to re-evaluate your life. Ok, maybe not that drastic, but you seriously need to go and have a nosey.  They have to be one of my favourite nail polish brands ever and I seem to be building up quite the collection! This one is a gorgeous glossy white - nothing overly special about it but I'm loving white nails at the minute and this one applies really smoothly and evenly and is also amazingly opaque. A lot of white polishes take forever to build up but this one is perfect.

Barry M | Gelly Hi-Shine Polishes in 'Passionfruit' and 'Blue Grape' | £3.99 | Link

Ohhhh do I have a story behind this purchase... *face palm* I did the whole 'walk into Superdrug for one thing and end up waltzing around balancing a sizeable tower of stuff in just one hand' jobby. I seem to have really perfected this technique over the years (who needs baskets? Not me, apparently!) and I felt quite confident in my abilities to skillfully shuffle my way to the till. I almost had it nailed, however, it seems that I must have gotten a little bit cocky - because with an accidental nudge on the edge of the Rimmel stand and a little wobble of the elbows, my nail polish bottle had taken a dramatic tumble and promptly smashed all over Superdug's newly refurbished, perfectly polished floor.  Yep. I was that girl. It wasn't just a little drop of it either - ohhh no - it was the full works... a complete swirly mess all over the new dark wood flooring complete with massive dollop in the middle. Some might say I'd dropped it so amazingly well that it created a beautiful spiral effect to rival the likes of Van Gough but all I could think of was how long it was going to take to get it to come off. Everybody around me turned to stare... and then edged away pretty sharpishly whilst dodging the sea of bright coral nail polish that seemed to be spreading across the floorboards at my feet. You couldn't have scraped any more polish out of that bottle if you'd tried. I proceeded to shout over the sales assistant, my skyscraper-beauty-product tower still half in-tact and perched delicately in hand as she stared for a few seconds at what a mess I'd made. Somebody should have got a basket. It all turned out fine though - Superdrug's floor was restored to 'good as new' status after a few wet wipes and half a bottle of nail polish remover - nobody would ever know about my mishap and all traces of bright coral were successfully removed. I was lucky enough that the sales assistant was absolutely lovely about it (although she wouldn't let me help clear it up no matter how many times I asked - awkward - try standing there for a good 5 minutes whilst somebody else works up a sweat trying to scrub your nail-polish spillage off the floor...) She thanked me for being so honest and we had a bit of banter about customers who spill stuff - apparently it happens all the time with nail polish and people just walk off and leave it?! Needless to say, after working in retail for 5 years that fact doesn't shock me one bit. I've had to scrub all sorts off shop floors, let me tell you. Gregg's sausage rolls ain't so appealing when you've had to scrape them away piece by piece from carpet fibres...

Anyway, storytime over.  I don't have any of the darker shades in the Gelly polishes so I figured I'd grab a couple.  Passionfruit is a gorgeous sunset coral/red shade (which will look so much nicer on my nails than on Superdrug's floor) and 'Blue Grape' is a gorgeous deep royal blue.  It reminds me very much of Topshop's 'AWOL' polish... except a few quid cheaper (every little helps don't you know?!) I can imagine these will look amazing with a tan!

B. | Flawless Long-Lasting Concealer | £5.99 £2.99 | Link

I went into Superdrug specifically to look at their 'B.' range of beauty products.  I've never ever tried anything from there so I really wanted to have a good browse.  I was over the moon to discover they had a 50% offer on all of their products (they still do if you're interested so hop to it!)  I decided to try their Flawless Concealer - I adore my Estee Lauder Double Wear concealer but wanted a shade or two lighter to use on those days where I need a decent bit of brightening up and I didn't fancy shedding out another £20. I usually hate the twist up 'stick' form concealers, but I was blown away at just how creamy this one was.  I haven't tried it under the eyes yet so I'm reserving judgement but I really was impressed at how creamy, pigmented and easy to blend it was.  It seems like it has amazing coverage too so watch this space!

B. | Rich Intense Colour Lipstick in 'Toffee' | £7.99 £3.99 | Link

Wow. These lipsticks certainly aren't telling porkies - they really are rich and intense in colour! I'm obsessed with browns at the minute (not for everyone but if you find the right shade, believe me they work a treat at whitening your teeth!) so I settled on 'Toffee', a mid-browny nude. It has a hint of shimmer in the tube but it doesn't transfer to the lips - it just gives the lipstick a lot of dimension.  It's so creamy and smooth - quite similar to Mac's Amplified finishes. It isn't glossy, it isn't completely matte - just a lovely in-between 'satin' like finish that feels comfortable to wear. Again, I won't say too much as I've used it once but so far, so good.

Rimmel | Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Liner in 'Black' | £3.99 | Link
Whyyyy on earth have I never tried these liners? I don't often wear a liner in my waterline but if I'm going out somewhere special I do like some extra definition.  I'm not sure if it's my eyes but I seem to be put off applying liner in my waterline because it smudges almost instantly and looks ridiculous within an hour or so - so I'm holding out hope that this one stays put a little better.  I heard Tanya Burr raving about these in a few of her tutorials so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Loreal | Superliner Perfect Slim | £7.99 | Link
My favourite liner of all time.  I will forever re-purchase this beauty and it's featured in so many of my posts now.  Easy to use, long-lasting and one pen lasts me months. Well worth every single penny! I urge you to try it if you haven't already!

Dove | Purely Pampering Body Cream in Shea Butter and Vanilla | £4.99 £2.49 | Link

My new favourite body butter was on offer for £2.49!? Amazing! This tub is huge and lasts me quite some time. I promptly picked up a back-up for when my current one runs out as it was too good to miss out on the offer.  I spoke about this in my recent favourites post which you can read here, if you're interested! 

Arran Aromatics | Lavender Tea Tree Facial Wash | Link

I bought this off AllBeauty a while back for a fabulous bargainous price - but it's not on there now for some reason. Well worth shopping around for as it seems to vary in price quite a bit! I received this a while back in one of my first Love Me Beauty boxes and I've loved it ever since.  I speak about it a little more in one my 'Best of 2013' post here. It's such a lovely gel-like consistency and it's really soothing to use.  It has a very gentle exfoliating effect due to the little beads in it and always leaves my skin feeling really refreshed and clean.  

Arran Aromatics | 'After the Rain' Eye Gel | £5.50 | Link

I like the brand so much, I decided to pop their eye gel into my basket too.  I adore their range of facial washes and their body butter has to be one of my favourites too, so i figured I couldn't go wrong with their eye cream.  It's really lightweight and has a cooling, soothing effect on the skin.  It smells really fresh too. 

Shu Uemura | Art of Hair Essence Absolue Oil | £29.60 | Link

My most favourite hair oil of all time - EVER.  I've used all kinds of hair oil brands and this one tops all of them by a mile.  I have a full review of it on my blog here if you want to read more about it, but it really has revolutionised my hair routine!  I use it every single time I wash my hair without fail, and have also used it on dry-hair through the day to revive my style.  It's not heavy in the slightest but it's incredibly moisturising - if you find Moroccan Oil far too greasy or heavy then I really do recommend Shu Uemura's offering.  I actually find this more moisturising and it doesn't weigh my hair down half as much.  A bottle lasts absolutely ages too because all you need is 1-2 pumps per use.  You can also use it on hair extensions if they're feeling a little worse for wear - little tip for you there!

Nars | Sheer Glow Foundation in 'Fiji' | £31.00 | Link
Another repurchase for me. I've had 3 bottles of this foundation now and it's still my favourite - it's going to be a tough one to beat! It is, without a doubt, a little on the pricey side but it's well worth every penny.  I have a full review on my blog so I won't say too much about this one but I really do recommend checking out the Nars stand if you're after a long-lasting, medium-full coverage foundation with a satin finish.

Nars | Matte Multiple in 'Altai' | £30.00 | Link 
The star of the whole post! If you follow me on Twitter, you may have seen that I made an impulse purchase on one of the new matte multiples! As soon as I heard about them I knew I'd end up buying one - I'm such a sucker for contouring products and when I saw the matte brown/bronze shades I was instantly sold.  I was sold even more once the assistant had applied it to my face - WOW. I was speechless.  She made a very quick, easy sale there! I'll hold off from saying too much about this as I have a full review planned very, very soon! I also haven't swatched it for the purpose of this post as I wanted to keep it pristine for my full review... (sorry ;))

Lola | Foundation Brush | £14.00 £11.20 | Link

And finally, my newest addition to my brush collection - this foundation brush by the brand 'Lola'. I was so excited when I heard that Marks and Spencers were going to stock the brand in store. A while back, I discovered 'Lola' on a trip to Lanzarote and was so sad when I found out I couldn't get my mitts on it here in the UK (I have a post on one of their blushes here - amazing pigmentation!). Honestly, I really hope the brand becomes more well-known in the blogging community as it really is such an unsung hero of the cosmetic world! I bought this because the assistant in SpaceNK applied the Nars Multiple with a flat foundation brush and I loved the finish it provided - I don't really own one like this so I promptly took it to the till. It's one of the softest brushes I own and it seems really good quality for the price (it was on offer at the time) - definitely one of the more luxurious brushes I've come across!  I'll definitely be checking out more of their things in future now that they're more accessible. The brand is definitely more mid-high end and their products aren't the cheapest, but they're well worth getting to know.

And there we have it.  I must apologise for this rather meaty post! But I really wanted to feature everything together rather than splitting it up into two halves and I haven't done a haul in a good while. I will be doing full reviews on some of the products featured in this post so keep your eyes peeled! 

Anything here that tickles your fancy? Is there anything you'd like to hear more about?

Another Elf Haul | Cosmetics & Brushes...

 

When life gives you lemons (or in my case, a shed load of uni work complete with looming deadlines), it's only natural to want to treat yourself.  I found myself snooping around the Elf website quicker than you can say 'retail therapy' and grabbed some new bits and bobs. With Christmas around the corner (as well as my car's MOT - fabulous timing!) I've really had to watch where the pennies are tottling off to this month, so I decided to pick up some 'essentials' online. Elf have been doing quite a few deals and discounts just recently which, annoyingly so, I always seem to miss, but I still picked up my fair share of cosmetic goodness for little over £15 - you can't grumble at that!  I thought I'd share with you the things that I decided to add to my basket this time around... There's a couple of little gems in there!

Complete Coverage Concealer in 'Light' | £3.75 | Link

My holy grail concealer has to be my Estee Lauder Double Wear - but for days when I'm not going far from the house or just want a little light coverage under my eyes, I usually opt for a slightly cheaper option. I wanted to try something new this time around and specifically wanted a little palette or duo which contained a peach/pink toned concealer to target dark circles (because I've got plenty of those just recently...thanks coursework!).  This one is perfect - it contains four shades, 2 slightly more yellow toned and two which lean slightly pink. I was pleasantly surprised with this.  I have to admit I wasn't expecting a great deal but I'm amazed at how pigmented and creamy they all are.  I've only worn it a couple of times but for a budget palette it really does do the job and although it isn't the heaviest coverage ever, it gets rid of dark circles in an instant.  I have to top up once or twice through the day but it didn't crease or look cakey on me whatsoever.  For under £4 - it's a mahoosive thumbs up from me!

Mineral Eye Brightener | £3.50 | Link

I've been wanting a powder for the under eye area for a while now but sadly, I don't currently have the funds to shed out for Bare Minerals 'Well Rested' (currently one on my wish list!).  I thought this might do the job as it promises to 'diminish the appearance of dark circles' and 'brighten and revitalise' any areas that need a bit of a perk up! It also contains green tea, chamomile and vitamins C+E to 'nourish, tighten and refresh'.  I can't say I'm blown away by it yet but I reckon it's partly to do with the packaging.  I might have to take the little 'shaker' lid thingymajiggy off and apply it straight from the pot as it's extremely hard to dispense a decent amount.  It does seem to brighten the under-eye area but I shall reserve judgement on this until I've tried it a little more...

Lipstick in 'Fearless' | £1.50 | Link 

After previously trying Elf's Mineral lipsticks, I thought I'd try the standard line of them.  I quite liked the look of 'Fearless' - a bright cherry red shade with a hint of raspberry pink.  I hate the packaging - it's really awkward to twist up (maybe I just have a dodgy one?) but I guess for £1.50 - I can't expect gold encrusted tubing now, can i? Gripe aside, the formula is actually pretty good.  It's really nicely pigmented, fairly creamy and easy to apply.  It's nothing amazing, but it's a lovely little addition to my 'red lipstick' collection and I'd definitely buy another shade.  For £1.50 - it's the perfect way to try out a colour without commitment of buying a higher end version.

Studio Matte Shadow in 'Chestnut' | £3.75 | Link

I've been after a warm, matte brown eyeshadow for a while now to use for blending and subtle smokey eye looks.  I've never tried Elf's eye shadows so I thought it was about time I popped one into my basket.  'Chestnut' is a gorgeous mid-toned matte brown shade and looks lovely blended into the crease of the eyelid for some added definition.  It isn't the smoothest powder ever, but for less than a fiver it does the job and I love this little pot. It even comes with a handy little brush!

Small Tapered Brush | £3.75 | Link

As most of you will probably know by now, I'm quite partial to some contouring here and there! My Real Techniques Contour brush gets it's fair share of use, so I thought I'd pick up something similar.  This one is lovely and soft, and has a slightly tapered end so it's easier to be more precise in all those nooks, crannies and crevices! I find it gives a more subtle finish than the Real Techniques version, as it doesn't pick up as much product.  This makes it fabulous for contouring as I can build it up and there's no danger of going a bit 'OTT'.  It's perfect for cheekbones and even for a dab of blush now and again.  

Contour Brush | £3.75 | Link

I needed some more eye brushes as I'm getting a little fed up of having to clean mine so often.  I picked up this little contour brush for use in the crease of the eye and it's the perfect shape and size.  I really like my blending brush from Elf (featured in my last haul) so I figured I'd get some use out of this one too. Always handy to have a selection of contouring/blending brushes - especially for the festive season when the smokey eyes come out to play!

Eyeshadow Brush (left) | £1.50 | Link  // Defining Eye Brush (right) | £1.50 | Link

Every girl needs a standard eye shadow brush! I use my Urban Decay ones daily but fancied another one so I have a few lying around for when I'm getting a bit more creative with my eye shadows.  I actually find I tend to prefer the 'standard' Elf brushes compared to the Studio line - I think they pick up a little more product! 

 

All hail the awkward arm! No elf haul is complete without a few swatches on one's arm, is it?! ;).  It was really difficult to photograph this post - I can't believe how dull the light has been this week! Any other fellow bloggers having the same kerfuffle?! Even with a bit of lighting and amping up the ISO on my camera, I just can't get a bright photo to save my life.  Roll on summer is all I can say... Anyway, as you can see, the pigmentation of the concealer palette is really spot on - it has to be my favourite buy along with the brushes.  If you're thinking of expanding your brush collection but can't afford high-end specials, it's worth looking at the selection available on the Elf website. They're really worth the money and I'd particularly recommend their eyeshadow brushes if you want a cheap addition for everyday use.  You can find Elf's selection of cosmetics and tools on their website here.

Have you tried and loved anything from Elf just recently?