Daydreamer

 

Slight delay in posting about my duty-free goodies, simply because i've been having a good play so i can report back all in good and proper fashion. To start the story (because there always is one..) the Sandiford family moseyed on in to duty-free pretty early at Gatwick North terminal, whereby i had no intentions of wasting time i frogmarched straight over the make-up counters like a force not to be reckoned with. Considering it happened to be payday and i had been given a belated birthday gift - belated as in last October - my darling friend knew me well enough to keep a card by for such moment!

Mac Paint Pot - Bare Study

I had been eyeing up the Mac Paint Pots (cream eyeshadows) for quite awhile, as my Urban Decay Primer Potion really doesn't cut it for me, however on another note the ELF eyeshadow primer is much better in my opinion. Anyway this works perfectly either as a primer under other shadows, intensifying the colour and lasting power, or just a general wash of champagne colour on the lids. It was perfect for holiday, easy to blend and wear. Definitely a staple.

Mac Blush - Style

With my shopping list in tow i had originally planned to purchase Springsheen, but the sales assistant informed me that most items were in-fact out of stock.. I could't pass up Style, which is pretty darn similar to Springsheen none the less. It is a frost/shimmery finish, a light coral sheer shade with a slight gold running through. I tried so hard not to buy another blusher, but hand on heart this does differ slightly from the other eight coral blushes i own, ahem.

Chanel Coco Shine Hydrating Sheer Lipstick - Chance

Thats lipstick porn right there. These lipsticks are beyond beautiful and they live up to their ridiculously long names. I'm practically a lipstick virgin, anything too pigmented i run for the hills. But these babies are a sheer but pack a punch bright colour, they are creamy and hydrating, adding an impressive glossiness and rather good staying power surprisingly. Despite the horrendous prices - it is Chanel darling - these are definitely a firm favourite of mine!

Chance is a bright pop of pink, completely and utterly pretty with a tan but rather nice bright yet subtle pink on paler skin tones.

Chanel Coco Shine Hydrating Sheer Lipstick - Evasion

Evasion is a more dusky pink in the tube, but its not to be over looked. On the lips it creates that shade 'your lips but better, i.e more kissable' even with a slight coral sheen.

Mac Lipstick - Creme Cup

Macs best lipstick formula is its Cremesheens, completely smooth and creamy, they apply like a dream. Already a mad fangirl of Hue, a lovely nude, Creme Cup is Hue's pinker cousin. More pigmented than the Chanel's, they are Macs two fail safe lipsticks. 

This would be my overly tanned hand, natural may i add, providing swatches.

Top L-R - Paintly Paint Pot, Style blush.

Bottom L-R - Evasion, Chance, Cremecup.

And of course, not forgetting duty free on the other side! In the tiny Cuban airport i snapped up the best rum around, Havana rum, so tasty. The little weathervane logo on the bottle was a landmark i visited here. With the larger bottle working out at a bargainous six pounds, each of my family clinked the entire way back to Gatwick. I also purchased many Cuban cigars, not for my consumption of course! but for friends.

Such a cheesy photo, i couldn't resist. I did sniff out some Victoria Secret's body mists but frankly they smelt like a tarts boudoir so i gave those a miss, i also went back to purchase some Chanel blush but was slightly scared when the sales assistant gave me the eye and said 'your honestly back again?!' I took this as a sign and retreated, of which now i thank her, as duty-free can be rather dangerous! So whilst i sip on my Cuba Libre cocktail (post to follow, so tasty!) and plan my next Chanel lipstick purchase, have a lovely evening! 

SAVVVY

I'm all for an offer and a good save as you might know! Being a total make-up junkie myself, this offer i spied was literally to good not to pass on. Depending on much of a crazed fan you are, you might be aware that the Mac online store is down for re-furb. However, fear not! If you click on their main homepage, you will be alerted to fill in your email address, and within a few days you will be sent a personalised e-voucher for a free Haute and Naughty Mascara worth £17.50 when you place your next order. 

Admittedly, i do have a good three mascaras on rotation at the moment, but Mac you came just at the right time, i had needed to make an order for a while and this should fall nicely in time with payday.

Yay or nay? 

Hey you, with the pretty face, welcome to the human race!

With such horrid weather, let's face it there are only so many new Spring/Summer clothes we can hoard. Yes, i understand that i pretty much desperately need that summer dress, but it's rather sad to think that it probably won't make it's debut for at least a couple of months - by then i'll of already fallen in love with about fifty other summer dresses. So for the few last weeks, many beauty purchases have been bought. This is only the beginning. 

Tangle Teezer - (£9.99)

It does what it says on the tin. The tangle teezer was, i must admit, a rather impulse purchase. Since growing my hair, the daily combat with my brush and soaking wet hair isn't fun. And when you aren't blessed with the natural thick locks, i intend not to fight them! Since purchasing the tangle teezer, what would be a 5 minute argument, is now a two minute brush. I severely recommend these rather bizarre looking contraptions, and in all honestly my hair is in so much better condition from it.

NARS nail varnish in Orgasm - (£13.50)

Not being able to wear the blush version without my pores screaming out glitter overload, i most eagerly snapped up the varnish from ASOS, with 20% student discount. This golden, peachy pink shade is the colour of my summer.

Lee Stafford Hair Growth Treatment - (£7.00)

I don't believe for one moment that a hair conditioner can actually make your hair grow, but my curiosity got the better of me when it was on offer in Boots, two for £8. Do the math. Considering Lee recommend an 'egg' shaped handful, thank god it was on offer. I can't see many eggs coming out of one tub alone. It's a great mask and conditioner (nothing compared to good old Aussie) but really, i think i would need more than two tubs to see any kind of difference. But if does work a little magic, i will cry in happiness. 

Urban Decay Naked Palette - (£32.00)

Talk about jumping late on the bandwagon, eh? For all my non-blogger readers, the UD Naked palette, is the one palette to rule them all. Not much of an eyeshadow wearer, i have definitely been, using the word roughly, attempting to create some neutral looks. After lusting and pondering the release of this palette, then leaving it forever to purchase it sold out. Thankfully, it came back on the Debenhams site for two hours before it sold out again, sorry ladies! Although i'm sure it will be back soon enough, i can't give enough love to Virgin, Sin and Side Car.

Laura Mercier blush in shade Lotus Pink - (£19.50)

I'm pretty much obsessed with Laura Mercier, and with £10 left to spend on my Space Nk card, i barged right on in to buy this beauty. More peachier in real life, it has a really bright pow effect, very different to Deep Throat by Nars. This blush is only to be worn with the simplest of make-up, as it certainly packs a very bright punch.

Mac Pro-Longwear Concealer - (£13.50)

Not going to lie, my Studio Fix concealer is my one and only, holy grail concealer. But with all these late night, early mornings (bloody weird sleep pattens) my under-eye circles are not thanking me. This Pro-Longwear concealer, is very full coverage, so only needed for very, bad skin days. Works wonders on blemishes or dark circles, yet it literally needs the smallest amount. 

That is part of my stash i've been building up. Have you tried any of these products?

rockin' around the christmas tree

..has to be one of my all time favourite Christmas songs, mainly because it reminds me of Home Alone, which is basically the best Christmas film ever. My Christmas was slightly mad, i went to visit family in Worthing for the day, then the boy came down and we drove home and spent the evening together at home. Sadly i don't have any photos, as i completely fail at remembering. My family have just arrived home, so we will be having our normal Boxing day feast tonight, accompanied by Bedknobs and Broomsticks!

Here are a few presents i received from my lovely family and friends.

The boy bought me a very large (massive!) bottle of Chanel Chance, which is amazing because a) i could literally bath in it and b) he bought me tiny bottle for me when i was sixteen, so five years later i think i deserve the biggest ;) And a Clarin's lip gloss that smells like toffee, yum.

My lovely little brother gave me a Nars eyeshadow duo and a very, very cute bird hook for my room.

My lovely parents bought me the Mac mini brush sets, i'm blown away how good they are already. And those three tartan hideous cases are being hidden away somewhere, until i can find some use for them.

Audrey Hepburn is a big style influence on me, her classic and rather french style is exactly how i aspire to be. My lovely friend Sarah, who is actually amazing at giving gifts, gave me this book full of photos of her, and even includes a print which no doubt will be framed on the asap.

My lovely boy also bought me these, Linda La Plant is possible one if my favourite thriller authors. Mary Poppins is my all time favourite film, and Christmas really isn't Christmas without Bedknobs and Broomsticks! 

With my Christmas money i snapped up these Vivienne Westwood pumps from My Wardrobe for £35.00 steal! Much to the amusement of my boy's friend they smell of sweets too, how odd! 

I also received some money from my parents as my main present, which was lovely of them, but i really cannot decide when to spend it on! Paired with my birthday money, i could buy an Alexa (gigantic grin) but i'm so indecisive it's untrue. Currently on my wish list is a Mui Mui, but we will see. 

Whilst i didn't make it out shopping today, i have one large Boot's order, TWO Topshop orders and a sneaky John Lewis order to arrive! I somewhat managed to get onto all sales early in the morning before work on Christmas Eve, and snapped up all the best bits! 

Have you been sale shopping? The in-store Topshop one was pants! 

all we hear is radio gaga.

Demonstrating my two new loves:

Arran Cardigan - ASOS (free)

Mac Lipstick - Hue (£12.50)

I'm never normally that lucky, but i when i ordered this cardigan from ASOS it was during the heavy, heavy snow. Needless to say after fifty thousand frantic emails and automated replies (what's up with this? never heard of a dog and bone?) i harassed their facebook team. I received a speedy reply to find out it had been lost in transit, queue a refund back into my account and this little present on my door step that very morning.

Gutted.

the specials

Whilst waiting for student funds to arrive - my wardrobe is seriously lacking the much needed A/W must haves. In the time being i thought i would show you my loves, 'mehs' and dislikes of the beauty world of this moment in time, there are many products you hear me batter on about but truth be told i'm rather addicted to trying out new skin and body products, so here goes:

Loves.

Queen Helene's Mint Julep Mask 

This mask is a godsend, something pretty special - have i ever found something like this on the UK market? No. This American brand Queen Helene's clay mask is formulated to dry up acne pimples, rinse away blackheads and shrink enlarged pores, gross?  But, hey it works a treat. I've used countless clay masks promising to do the same, and sure they make a slight difference but not in any way as deep cleansing as the Mint Julep Mask. Working like any other clay mask, it is to be left on the skin for 15 minutes and then washed off, yet straight after use-age you can visibly notice the impurities being bought to the surface, yes, pretty gross again but the mask is actively working away at imperfections you have rather than just working to prevent new ones forming. I use this two/three times a week and can see my pores improving. The only drawback is that this brand in American, meaning it can only be bought online, i bought mine off of Amazon for roughly £5 - and this is amazing for the size of product sold (i cannot see myself running out of this any time soon!).

No7 Tinted Moisturiser - Boots (£11.00)

I have pretty much always over looked the No7 brand, simply because it struck me as outdated, with thoughts of blue crumbly eyeshadow accompanied by orange cakey foundation was enough to scare me off. But since Boots introduced their £5 off vouchers, it was practically inviting me to try some products rather than just stocking up on the amazing eye shadow brushes that they offer. I am a self confessed foundation addict, always on the search for the next perfect formulation. After my stint with the Lancome lady (for an update see end of post) i decided that at the moment my skin doesn't require such a heavy coverage, and slathering on foundation looks so tacky. So i gave the No7 Tinted Moisturiser in Fair a shot, it states that it is suitable for all skin types, it has SPF 15 and provides a beautiful sheer colour. First off i wondered how can one product be suitable for an oily skin as well as a dry skin? Secondly, already a winner for having an SPF. And thirdly, i don't understand the term sheer..

All you need to know is that this tinted moisturiser covers and blends perfectly to provide a very light base, enough to look like you are alive, but enough to make you look very natural. I simply add concealer on any blemishes or dark circles, and to keep the shine at bay i just re-powder like normal. I have an oily skin, and i wouldn't stay it applies either dewy or matte - just enough balance.


(click to read moar)

Johnson's Facial Wipes (£2.99)

I bought these for my holiday in Egypt last year, since then, i always have a pack of these within my beauty box. These go so much further than just your normal wipes, they check all the boxes for removing make up, but the way they make your skin so soft is just damn right crazy. I went through a stage of stoking my face after using these, in awe of soft they made my skin! Plus they smell so refreshing and don't tend to dry out at all. Winner. 

Chanel Soliel Tan De Chanel (£28.00)

Yes, a tad pricey but this product has been a staple in my make-up routine all summer, in-fact i have used this ever since i bought it and i haven't even dented the amount! This bronzer politely shoved my Nar's Laguna to one side, creating the perfect bronzed base. It can built up to create a really sunkissed glow or applied lightly to contour and add that extra hint of colour. I apply this after my foundation, using the ELF powder brush, which creates a seamless, natural finish. I really recommend this product for fair skins, who just want that light touch of tan. Plus is smells LOVELY, all tropical and fruity, yum.

Laura Mercier Eye Brow Pencil (£18.00)

I have very, very fair eyebrows. Needless to say, it actually looks like i don't have any. grump grump. Thanks to Mrs Mercier, i have conquered the brow pencil in a shade that actually suits me. Due to very crappy experience at the Mac counter, where the SA shaded in the darkest brown eyebrows which resulted in caterpillar vs alien territory, i'm a firm believer in sticking to your own mind, and thank god i did, this blonde brow pencil works wonders!  

Dislikes 

Revlon Colour Stay (£11.99)

For some people this is the holy grail drug store foundation, and i'm not going to lie, i thought so too. Until i looked in the mirror one day and wondered why my pores on my face looked twice the size, for that reason alone it completely fails. The coverage of this product is surprisingly good for a drug store foundation, i want to love it, but i just can't. Plus the shade Buff that i bought, is slightly peach toned which could possibly verge of the balance of looking to orange - it sucks. Another major rant, why the hell did Revlon not add a pump? See all that mess? Do not want.

Benefit Pop of Colour Palette 

Giving this product it's due, i did buy this a few years back and granted you can no longer buy it. Yet, Benefit do still stock the shades with the palette, so i thought i would throw my two cents in. The pink shade, known as Dandelion does not show on the skin. Instead if the pop of baby pink you expect: nada.    It states that it's a brightening face powder, but why on earth would i want a dusty layer of this on my face? Hoola, the bronzing face powder is like mud, it literally just looks like dirt. And Dallas, another bronzer, i personally dislike due to the glitter - ew. All round waste of money, and the brush is laughable. 

Nivea Visage Tinted Moisturiser - unless you are actually orange do not purchase

Bastistse Dry Shampoo in Blush - the smell of this, i find nauseating - stick to the original or Tropical.

And a product that doesn't get enough love..

Mac's lipstick in Chatterbox.

Have you tried any of these products?

(I'm still conversing with Boots on my experience at Lancome, but they Customer Service team are fantastic (oh the irony!) and i will post once i have received further correspondence).