my first ever e.l.f. haul!

Ive been hearing about this brand for quite some time now, and i recently bought a eyebrow kit from a blog sale which i love. The first thing that shocked me about this brand was how cheap it is, yet its not really recognised outside the beauty blogger world (i.e none of my friends have heard of it) I initially had so many products in my 'basket' would have been ridiculous to 'go to the checkout'. And since i haven't really tried anything from this brand, and I've heard mixed reviews, i thought id try just a couple of things.

I was so excited about these !! Ive never really bought a proper brush set, I've collected random odds and sods over the years, and I've been on the hunt for an affordable yet good quality set for a while. This cost £12 for 10 brushes, which isn't expensive at all, and i can't wait to try them out !

The second thing i got was this e.l.f. elements palette. You buy the empty palette (£1) then you buy the little pans - i chose to get face products. The top left pan is Glow, the top right pan is Bronzed, the bottom left is Shy, and the bottom right is Flushed. I don't really know how i feel about these products, as the reason i bought them was so i could put them in my handbag for an on the go beauty touch up. The only thing is, i don't think they'd last. They arrived already crumbling and you can kind of see in the pictures they are a little jagged around the edge. I think ill try these in my handbag for a day, as I'm really worried they'll just crumble and ruin the whole thing. Expect a review soon!


Have you tried any of these products?
Please let me know what you think!

BIG haul - superdrug/boots

Yesterday i caved. It wasn't a good day for me, as as a treat to myself i splurged, however i am in love with everything I've bought so far, so here it all is. Please note everything i bought was either on offer or part of an offer - i have a good eye for a bargain ;)

(L-R) 17 Blemish Balm in light (£6.99) - i recently purchased the Garnier BB cream, and as this is quite a bit cheaper, i figured i had little to lose and have purchased this, prepare for a comparison review !

17 Peep Show mascara in brown black (£6.29)- i didn't realise it was this shade, as i would've chosen black, but then again i only have 2 brown mascaras, and i usually prefer this shade for the day anyway. As you can kind of see in the photo its quite messy already, and i haven't even used it yet, but I've heard good things about this, and combined with the pretty packaging i couldn't resist.

17 Instant Glow Bronzing Powder (£5.49) - first of all i couldn't believe how big this was for the price! The brilliant leopard print pattern also drew me in, and i loved the idea of the gold infused into the colour. I totally smudged the pattern when i tried to swatch it as you can see in the photo, but i think you get the idea of how it is supposed to look?

These items were in a 3 for 2 offer, so i ended up getting all this £13.28, which isn't the cheapest shop ever, but its nowhere near the most expensive.

These items were 2 for £4.99, so again i couldn't resist!

Collection 2000 Cream Puff Moisturising Lip Cream - this reminds me of the matt glosses from miners, so i was instantly drawn in. However, there seems to be very little product inside, and it could possibly appear the product has dried up, not sure yet!

Collection 2000 Lock N Hold Lipgloss in Twisted Disco 6 - I have 2 others in this range and love love love them - they don't last anywhere near 6 hours, but the smell and moisturising factor makes these glosses a must have!

There is currently an offer in Superdrug in which you get the Miss Sporty concealer free if you buy another product (i think it was just skin products)

Miss Sporty Liquid Concealer in shade 001 Light - I've recently become a fan of liquid concealers, and this was worth £2.99, so to get it free was a bonus!

Miss Sporty LightEnergy Radiant Look in shade 01 Light (£3.49) - I thought this looked and sounded similar to the BB creams I've been recently purchasing, and i am looking for light layers rather than heavy foundations at the minute, and this looked great for that.

My go to brand MUA! I love love love their lipsticks, and for only a pound my aim to buy the whole collection!

MUA  Lipstick in shade 3 - this is a really hot pink, which doesn't show up on this photo, but i will probably wear this at the weekend so ill do some swatches

MUA pro 3 in 1 extreme Contour Liner - This was free with any MUA product can you believe it?? So i got both these for £1! I think the excitement took over me, as i didn't realise there were different shades of this liner, and i happened to pick up shade 5 Auburn, which i suppose worked out well as i have tons of black liners. Considering this is so cheap to buy anyway, the packaging is really sleek and sturdy - you would think its much more expensive than it is. What makes this liner different is the angle, and on the back of the box are different ways of using this to get different effects - i can't wait to try it !

I've had my eye on this for a while - GOSH foundation primer CLASSIC. I don't have that many primers, and i read someone's blog saying this was their all time favourite. Ive only ever used cream primers before, and when i tested this it left the back of my hand feeling so velvety i was sold straight away. Oh and of course it was in the sale at £10.99

This caught my eye on my way out the shop, and as I've only just looked at the receipt now i did NOT realise it was £7.99, as it was marked on the shelf as considerably cheaper, which is what brought me to it in the first place! Well anyway, i am just a normal girl with body parts id like to improve, and I'm going to rub this on the tops of my legs everyday til it runs out, then do a big review for you all, and if it works i might just have to repurchase it !

I've recently had a breakout, so I'm on a mission to better my skin for good. Ive used to cleanser since i can remember, its my go to skincare product, however i thought if I'm going to do this properly i need to go the whole hog.

(L-R) Deep Action cream wash (£1.99) - i felt this would be better for my dry skin than a gel wash, and the product is a really good size for the price

Deep Cleansing lotion (£1.89) - I know i love this product, and i know it works for me, so i have repurchased, and ill probably repurchase a 100 times

Dual Action Moisturiser (2.39) - MissBudgetBeauty raves about this, and she seems to have similar skin to me, so i figured it could also become one of my favourite products

All these products were reduced in price, which is one of the reasons why i chose them, aside from the fact they're one of my favourite skincare brands

I didn't purchase the moisturiser today, so ignore that!

These are the other skin products i purchased in the hope for clear skin.

Foaming Face Wash and Cleanser and Toner - All these products smell amazing, and I've heard they are very good for spot prone skin, and i have currently started using these, so watch out for a big review soon!

THATS EVERYTHING! this has taken me so long to do, i didn't think it would be this long, and i have another haul to do before the day is out!

I hope you enjoyed my bargain haul ( I ended up saving £11.54 in super drug - WOW!) and if you have tried any of these products please let me know what you think.

Also, you all deserve a medal for getting to the end of this haul!

xxxxx

i do NOTD

I was consuming my weekly dose of Don't Tell The Bride (if you haven't seen this programme you HAVE to watch it) and i suddenly decided i wanted rid of my bright nails and wanted to don something a little more sheer and pearly. And this is what happened, here are my Don't Tell The Bride inspired nails...

I used Rubie and Millie polish, which is a first for me. I am unsure of the shade as it doesn't say, but for some reason I've wrote Neutral on the bottom - I'm not sure whether this is just what I've name it? If anyone can help me please feel free to leave a comment!

The polish has lasted well for 3 days now, with no chips or smudges, which i am very pleased about ! The colour itself looks more gold in the bottle, but applied its quite sheer, and more of a pearly colour - perfect for a natural understated day look!

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super natural FOTD

I didn't actually have anything to do today, as I'm off uni with a terrible cold, but if felt so poorly for a few days i wanted a little pick me up, and so decided to put a bit of makeup on, however its really natural as there was no point in doing a great deal as i only needed to pop to the shop. But enough of that.
Here's what i used:

(L-R)Superdrug essentials face cream, MUA primer, Garnier BB cream in light, 17 Hide & Chic in light rose, natural collection loose powder in neutral translucent, and MAC MSF in refined

(L-R) MUA mascara in shade 1 ( i use this to set my eyebrows, it was actually clear when i first purchased this how gross!), Elf eyebrow kit in dark, Sally Hansen lip conditioner and plumper (i use this everyday before applying any makeup as it really softens my lips)

(L-R) miners fleuro gloss in amplified, 2true concealer shade 2, MUA mosaic blush in english rose (my go to product EVERYDAY) and Loreal volume million lashes for blue eyes


And this is the result :

So that was my face today, i agree i don't look my best, but i am ill ! :(
Have you used any of these products?


xxxx

something i consider to be lucky!

As you know I'm taking part in the fashion challenge, and one of the things on the list is an item of clothing/accessory i consider to be lucky. Do shoes count? Well anyway here's mine...

These are my lucky sneakers. These are also the scruffiest, most battered shoes you'll ever see. Ive washed them so many times they are falling apart, so now i only wear them on special occasions when i really need some luck.
I hold these shoes very dear to me, as my dad bought me them quite some years ago (my feet haven't grown since i was 11 so they still fit) and i remember feeling really cool walking down the street in shoes that matched my dads. 
I wore them on all my results days, driving test, even university auditions, all of which went brilliantly, and thats why these are my little lucky charms 
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a change of colour

On new years eve i made the dreadful mistake of dying my hair with a dye which was on offer for £1.99, and consequently turned my hair an unflattering brown with a tint of red. Initially it looked okay, but at the red faded ill be honest it looked cheap and chavvy. 

SO, i took it upon myself to fix the problem, and heres what happened...

Before:

I used Garnier and the shade was shade 4, dark brown, which you can see here :

After:

my hair is much darker, which does require a bit more eyebrow work, but its worth it! 

What do you think?

xxxx

In the name of all things fashion

Heres the deal - i study dance at university, which means i wear trackies, leggings, leotards, vests and sports bras on a daily basis. Attractive eh? Seeing a lot of fashion posts such as OOTD's and such like really makes me jealous as i just can't do these, because trust me you will have no interest i seeing what i wear. However, as i work in a pub (which requires me to dress decent-ish) and i have weekends, i have decided to make the most of this time and start blogging about style. Ill admit i used to be quite trendy, and rather interested in having the latest trends on my back but as of recent (ill blame it on the dancing) i have become less stylish. Im hoping that if i know i am going to blog about what I'm wearing then ill make more of an effort, and wear things i haven't worn in a while, rather than sticking to the same staple items in my wardrobe. Ill probably keep it on the same blog while i see how i get on with it.


I even want to take on this challenge, where you have to post a picture each day for 30 days of :

1.     Your closet.

2.     Your favourite shirt.

3.     A piece of clothing or jewellery that was a gift

4.     A shirt that you haven’t worn yet.

5.     Your favourite pair of jeans.

6.     A pair of pants that aren’t jeans.

7.     A cute outfit of yours.

8.     Your most expensive article of clothing.

9.     A cute dress/ skirt.

10. An outfit you wore on a special day.

11. A piece of jewellery that a Grandparent gave you.

12. A piece of jewellery that everyone complements you on.

13. An outfit you wish you had.

14. Cute socks.

15. Your newest purchase.

16. You and someone wearing matching clothes.

17. An article of clothing that you made or altered.

18. A piece of jewellery that you made.

19. All your earrings, rings, necklaces and/or bracelets. 

20. Your jewellery box.

21. Something that you only wear around the house.

22. Something you only wear in the summer.

23. An article of clothing/accessory you consider to be lucky

24. Your favourite pair of shoes.

25. Shoes you love but hardly wear.

26. A mismatched outfit that you’d never wear (go wild: earrings, belts, crazy skirts etc.).

27. A hat.

28. An outfit you are ashamed to say you wore.

29. Something that is your favourite brand.

30. Something from your favourite store

Who's with me ?!

Beauty Questions - and i tag YOU!

SKINCARE
-How many times do you wash your face daily?  twice, once at morning, once at night 
 -What skin type do you have? (dry,oily,combo) normal/dry depending upon the time of year
-What is your current facial wash? FAB face wash (from the festive GlossyBox) but its nearly ran out!
-Do you exfoliate? twice a week
-What brand do you use? at the minute, Soap and Glory
-What moisturizer do you use? for my face, i am currently using Superdrugs essentials, and its great! If not this, i use Nivea
-Do you have freckles? yes, on various parts of my body (arms,legs,face)
-Do you use eye cream? no but i want to start using one, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
-Do you or did you have acne prone skin? i get some blemishes, but i don't have acne
-Did you ever have to use Pro-activ? no, I've needed to
-What foundation do you use? currently garner bb cream, which i suppose doesn't even count as a foundation
-How about concealer? benefit boiing, or 2true
-Do you know your undertone color? No!
-What do you think of fake eyelashes? the big massive ones look like a man in drag. the more natural ones can look beautiful
-Did you know that you are suppose to change your mascara every 3 months? yeah but i have so many id be wasting them
-What brand of mascara do you use? maybe line, rimmel, mac, 2true, mua, neavou, no7, ted baker, etc etc!
-Sephora or MAC? id have to say mac as I've never used sephora
-Do you have a MAC Pro-card? I'm a 19 year old student - does that answer your question?
-What makeup tools do you use in make up application? brushes, eyelash curlers, baby wipes, cotton buds, etc
-Do you use make-up base/primer for the eyes? yes, lemonaid by benefit - its amazing!
-For the face? benefit, MUA, can't think of any others right now! (its late)
-What is your favorite eyeshadow (color or shade)? MUA heaven and earth palette
-Do you use pencil or liquid eyeliner? i use liquid liner almost daily
-How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil? never
-What do you think of pigment eyeshadows? great for dance shows
-Do you use mineral makeup? no but id really like to
-What is your favorite lipstick? any Barry M, preferably my bright pink one which you can see here
-How about lipgloss? currently Miners Fleuro Gloss in Amplified
-What is your favorite blush to use? MUA Pro mosaic blush - its the best thing I've ever bought!
-Do you buy your makeup on ebay? yes too often, but only products i know are genuine, i don't buy mac or benefit or anything like that
-Do you like drugstore makeup? Its my favourite, brilliant quality at brilliant prices!
-Do you go to CCO's? (cosmetic company outlets) unfortunately not
-Did you ever consider taking make-up classes? yes, its one of my pending goals -Are you clumsy in putting on makeup? I think i used to be looking back, but Ive definitely got better with practice
-Name a makeup crime that you hate? having so much foundation on that you can see the line on your jaw, and generally wearing too much makeup
-Do you like colorful shades of makeup (lipstick,eyeshadow) or neutral ones? neutral mostly, but colourful is fun!
-Which celebrity always has great make up? Lauren Conrad and Beyonce , both super natural and super beautiful!
-If you could leave the house using just ONE make up item,what would you use? mascara
-Could you ever leave the house without any makeup on? yes, which i have done many times!
-Do you think you look good even without any makeup on? my boyfriend constantly tells me i look better without it
-In your opinion, what is the BEST makeup line? Barry M, the gorgeous colours and nail polishes are enough to brighten up anyones day!
-What do you think of Makeup?? Its something i collect, love to experiment with, and love reading/writing about!

Product of the day - Soap and Glory Heel Genius

Like many of you i received this in my MASSIVE Soap and Glory set (Hey Big Splendour) this christmas. I have been using this every night ever since. I am a real tough contender for this product, as i am a dancer, and dancing everyday has really took its toll on my feet. Since i have been using this product i have noticed a slight improvement. Once applied, my feet feel immediately soft, but smells like hair removal cream, which is slightly off putting.
I think if i were to stop using this product, my feet would return to being dry and cracked almost instantly, and i do feel i need to use it every night to feel the benefits, any less and i don't think i would.
I am going to persevere with this product and continue to use as i like the quality and thickness, and love the fact you only have to use a small amount! However, if you have seriously dry cracked feet you may want to look for something a little stronger. Like i have said i am a really tough customer as my feet would be more battered than the average lady, as Soap and Glorys Heel Genius is simply for tired dry feet in need of a little pamper! For the average lady's tutsies, this product is amazing!

Awkward object...

Welcome to the most annoying thing in my room right now. 
At first i loved the idea of this novelty massive sized vaseline tin, so much so that my lovely boyfriend bought it for me. Christmas has since passed, and its still looking at me, full of nothing. What the hell can i keep in this thing? I know your first thought will be lip balms right? Well i have far too many to even fit half of them in this thing, i even have too many vaselines than what this tin will hold. I can't even put bobbles/grips, rings, or earrings in here as they are perfectly stored elsewhere. I was hoping to put some sort of cosmetic into here, but the shape of it makes this a little awkward!


Is anyone else in the same position as me?
Do you have this oversized tin?




xxxx

REVIEW - FAB face cleanser (glossy box)

I recently received this product in my festive GlossyBox, which was perfect timing really as I really wanted to begin a new skincare regime. I have been using this twice a day since the beginning of January (even though its only a small bottle its gone really far - and I've still got a good amount left!) and yes i have noticed a difference in my skin. This is the best face wash/cleanser thing I've used in regards to getting my face really clean. When i use my toner after this, the cotton pad is the cleanest its ever been, which has also had a knock on effect on the condition of my skin - i now have noticeably few blemishes which is great. 


Now for the negatives - my main niggle with this product is the smell, or lack of it. A face wash/cleanser always wins me over if i like the smell, especially if its a fresh zesty smell to wake me up on a morning! This cleanser is pretty much scentless (is that even a word?!), although if you really sniff, theres a really plain, almost industrial smell. Its really hard to describe, but those of you who also received this product will know what i mean!


Due to the price and lack of fragrance, i would not purchase this product full size. However, having said that, i am in love with the way it really cleans my skin and leaves it fairly soft, and if i do find that no other face cleanser cleans my face to this degree, i may turn back to it...

so much nail polish....

Okay so i have a dilemma, and I've had it quite some time. Nail polish storage - i just haven't found the perfect way to store my ever growing collection. Ive had it on little shelves, I've had them in boxes, baskets, you name it I've tried it. I know its such a trivial little thing but having nowhere to store my rather big collection is becoming a bit irritating. As you can see from this picture i have started to put them in this box (which is actually an underwear box that came with dividers) but it doesn't quite fit every single one of them in. If anyone has any advice, or cool ways to store products please please please please help me, id really appreciate it! Also if anyone would like me to a nail polish collection post id be more than happy to do so :)

Help and advice would be greatly appreciated, I'm at somewhat of a loose end!
Thanks :)


xxxx

superdrug haul

I admit i made a spend! I'm not consciously trying to save money, but I'm also trying to spend a little less. But when i saw these offers, i just couldn't resist! All of these products are products i have wanted to try, as so many bloggers and you tubers have recommended them, i couldn't wait any longer, and i figured wages are supposed to be spent aren't they?

My first ever 2true products, i can't believe I've gone this long without trying this brand. The products are £1.99 each or 3 for £4.99, and thanks to MissBudgetBeauty recommending these products time and time again i figured i had little to lose if i didn't like them. The product on the left is a brown mascara, in shade 2. I tend to wear brown mascara during the day, for a more natural and understated look, and i am shocked at the quality of this product, as it made my lashes long and full of volume, for just £1.99! (this is almost certainly to be repurchased). The liquid liner is in black, because as you know i love my liquid liner, and am intact rarely seen without, so fingers crossed this is a good one! The concealer is in shade 2, and did provide good coverage, however you have to blend it in straight away otherwise it will sit on your skin. (I'm going to do a whole separate review on this product as  i have only used it once). 

The nose strips were again recommended, and i can't wait to try these as I've heard they are so good. There was an offer, which was 2 products for £3.99 (i think) so i couldn't resist getting something else, and i thought a moisturiser is probably going to be most useful to me during the winter. Having thought more about this though i am tempted to purchase the cleanser, toner and face wash, so that i can have a complete tea tree routine, surely it'll then be easier to see the benefits? 

I think I've saved the best til last - this was my most exciting buy of the day! Yet again this is all down to MissBudgetBeauty, as hearing her rave that many times about this product its been on my wish list for quite some time. The only thing that was putting me off was the price - £9.99 is a lot to spend on something i might not like isn't it ? The straw that broke the donkeys back was hearing MissBudgetBeauty say in a blog interview this would be the product she would have if she could only have one - how can i ignore that?? 
So here it is, expect a full review soon!




Have you tried any of these products? If so please tell me what you thought of them ! 


xxxxxxx

today i got a package - palette !

Right now everyone is raving over the Naked 2 palette, but i was looking for something a little similar (neutral colours), just not with the price tag. I've always wondered what the ebay palettes are like, and after asking MissBudgetBeauty what they were like (and being told they were of really good quality) i decided to take the plunge, although it wasn't much of a plunge as they are soooo cheap, more like dipping my toe in a rock pool. 
I will do swatches as time goes on as there are just so many colours, but my first impressions are that this might just be my new favourite palette! I was a little apprehensive as to whether all the shadows would be intact, but seen as the palette arrived wrapped in bubble wrap in a box which was in a polystyrene box which was in a cardboard box, there was little chance of that happening! The case itself is super sturdy, and easy to open and close.
If anyone wishes to know where you can buy this palette then just click here! They also do a palette full of bright colours, which as a dancer might just be pretty useful to me!

Have you used this palette?
Have you found an alternative to the naked palette?




xxxx

my 2012 wishlist

I didn't have a christmas wish list, as i love surprises, but this year there are a few products/brands I've got my beady eye on,  and by the end of this year i hope to have purchased them all!


*Garnier bb cream  - I've ready so many brilliant reviews on this product it would seem rude not to invest, and combined with the fact I've just been paid and its on offer, this purchase may just be around the corner.


*The Naked Palette - okay i confess, the only reason i want this product is because everyone else has it and i want to see what all the fuss is about. I have the Heaven and Earth palette by MUA (which i absolutely love) which is pretty similar, but id like to indulge in something a little more urban!


* Miners - after seeing numerous videos and posts about this brand, i recently looked at the website - i did not realise just how cheap these products are, and I'm all for a bit of shopping in my dressing gown, so an online spend is definitely in order.


*Elf - again after reading numerous reviews, and purchasing an eyebrow kit from a blog sale, i am curious about this cheap and cheerful brand, and i hear their brushes are something to be tried!


* MAC - i know its not all about expensive products, but i really want to expand my tiny mac collection this year, however this will be a difficult one as their isn't a mac counter to be seen anywhere near where i live!


* to expand my collection in general - yes i think of my beauty products as a collection, and to see how it expands over the year will make me a very happy girl :)


what are you wishes for 2012?


xxxxxx

All hail a cocktail !

These are one of the best things i received for christmas this year. They smell and TASTE so much like the actual cocktails they are supposed to be i just cannot stop smelling them! They are so moisturising to my dry lips, and i can't wait to wear these all summer ! Roll on spring i say! The only downside to these is that it can be quite difficult to get your finger in the product as they're quite small but i can honestly say i don't care, they're amazing and i love them !!

What were your favourite christmas gifts?

Whats making you look forward to summer?

xxxxxxxxxx

I'm going back to the start...

As i am someone who reapplies nail polish as soon as i take it off, my poor nails just don't get a break. Although its not really a new years resolution, i want to improve the condition of my nails, and after having a good look at them last night when i removed my polish, they really do need some tlc. I therefore decided to cut them short, and start again. I must admit i did put some polish on, but as of next week I'm going to give my nails a break between polishes, and course document my progress for you ;) 

Does anyone else never give their nails a break between polishes? Please say its not just me !!

JustMe,JustSam

          x

product of the day - Radox Shower Smoothies

As you can see from the line above and below the product we are in the middle of grouting haha! But anyway...
the only reason i purchased this was because it was a mere 99p in the Superdrug blue cross sale, i actually had no idea what it would be like. The smell is actually out of this world - it really does smell good enough to eat, and its exactly what you wish to walk round smelling of each day. Its a cream, so is naturally moisturising, and the ingredients list on the back consist of natural products, such as yogurt, honey, soft almond meal, and hyssop flowers. I can't recommend this product enough, hence why its my product of the day! I cannot wait to try the the other flavours (is that the right word?!) from this range!
Have you tried anything from this range?

Product of the day/review - and it's a good one !

WOW. When i received this Ted Baker mascara as part of an 'eye' set for christmas, i was a little dubious as i never really expect brands which don't perhaps specialise in mascara, as opposed to a brand such as maybeline or rimmel for example, if you get what i mean? It's hard to explain, and it's late.
The first little inkling i had that this could actually be something was the brush. the brush is fairly small, but really precise, and i thought it may give me natural serrated lashes, but i didn't expect much in terms of length.
I used this for the first time today, and you know how mascaras aren't always as good the first time you use them? Well this was AMAZING. I don't really have much else to say aside from the fact this mascara was just as easy to take off as it was to put on, i think the pictures speak for themselves.

please note my eyes are not usually that scary looking, i was widening them to try show you what the mascara looked like - enjoy ! 


JustMe,JustSam 
      xxxxx