Non-Beauty Haul

First of all is something that was an actual steal. I went into the Fiorelli outlet store in Cheshire Oaks and found this gorgeous new purse that I was in desperate need of. This purse is part of their new stock, and currently retails at £39 in their main stores and department stores. I got it at £8. It was such a ludicrous bargain that I couldn't resist showing it off. Unfortunately though if you like this, it is £39 everywhere else which I wouldn't have paid. Such a good quality leather purse that will last for years so at £8 I couldn't believe my luck!

Next is something that I'd wanted for so long I can't even explain. This was a belated birthday present from my aunt, and I love it so much. Its a gorgeous purple leather satchel, by The Leather Satchel Company, with my own initials on it how cute!

Next I treated myself to this beautiful, classic dress from Topshop at £40. It is my favorite colour being electric blue as I think its the colour that's most flattering on my skin tone. When I saw this dress on the hanger I didn't like it to be fair. The wrapped panels just sort of hung awkwardly, seemingly quite unflattering. However I had loved it whilst gazing through their website so I decided to try it on anyway and oh my god it just shows you should always try clothes on before you buy, because it can completely change your mind about something. I swear this is the most flattering dress ever. The wrapped panels are so figure hugging that they make you look super slim, and I love dresses with long sleeves which is a bonus. I think this is my new favorite dress ever, its so simple but I think its a classic piece that I'll get lots of use out of. 

Finally I got an outfit that I had been pondering over for a while. I had wanted disco pants for a while as I think they are a fantastic alternative for jeans for an evening party look, they still make you feel dressed up but not too over the top if you don't want to go for that sort of look. These ones I snatched up from Misguided and I think they are a real bargain- £25. They are literally an exact duplicate for the famous American Apparel ones which retail at around £75, which is far too over priced. These come in various colours, (I was torn between navy), but I went for the black as I think they are quite understated and generally more wearable. They look great teamed with any form of crop top; I went for this burgundy sleeveless one from ASOS, which again was a real good price at £12, and is a great staple for your wardrobe as it can be worn with so many different outfits. 

xxx

Santa Baby

So Santa was super generous to me this year so I decided to do a Christmas Haul! Bit hard to see everything on this image so i'll just list the main things :)

• Yankee Candle in the scent cinnamon stick
• Christmas stocking Pandora charm
• Jimmy Choo fragrance 
• Next fragrance in scent 'London'
• MUA make-up palette in 'Heaven and Earth'
• Maybelline gel eyeliner 
• Next cashmere body butter
• Little Miss Sunshine mug from Utility
• Life of Pi novel by Yann Martel  
• Eye shadow set and Nail set by Lumiere cosmetics
• No7 illuminating make up mirror
• New look black  jeweled dress
• New look bright pink onesie
• Topshop black and gold sparkly dress
• H&M Lana del Rey jumper and skirt

I would seriously recommend this Yankee Candle as it is the most perfect scent for the festive period. All the candles are seriously strong even without burning, so it leaves such a lovely aroma in the room. This one is super large so it lasts for ages too. The traditional design of Yankee's signature classic jar candle reflects a warm, relaxed sense of style that's always at home. Convenient and easy to use, these large candles provide 110 to 150 hours of true fragrance enjoyment. Note- it is cheaper to buy from Amazon and there many other fragrances by Yankee are also available. Buy Here

The MUA palette is also fantastic as it is a natural palette with all those basic every day shades that are an absolute must all year round. I think these palettes are around £4 too which is such an unbelievable bargain! They are great quality shadows too with excellent staying power.

Finally, in terms of beauty, the Maybelline gel eyeliner is something which I have only just discovered and I would now not be without it. I have used liquid eyeliner for years and love that too, but this gel formula has the appearance of a liquid liner but is so much easier to apply if you find it difficult. It is reasonably priced and includes a brush too, although I use a much thinner one to get a super precise finish. It is practically the same as the famous Bobbi Brown liner too, for about half the price so it is an absolute bargain! 

*Happy Holidays!*

December Beauty Haul

These are products which I have recently purchased for the Winter season, and some which I have been sampling/use especially for this time of year. Firstly, as I was so impressed with the Rimmel lasting finish foundation (which I reviewed in a previous post), I decided to buy another one from Rimmel but opted for this match perfection one instead, as I was attracted to the innovation of smart tone technology which adapts to the colour and tone of skin. I went for shade 003 In true Ivory, which is somewhat paler than I would usually choose purely because of the Winter season as skin would inevitably be paler in complexion. This tone matches my skin exactly. Previously with foundation, even if it is a shade darker It can be blended into the skin to create a natural, yet more tanned look, whereas as soon as this shade was applied even before blending, it matched my skin exactly. It gave me a flawless finish without leaving my skin too dewy which is ideal for the cold temperatures- a dewy look is most desired in the Summer season. Even though I have oily/combination skin, this foundation kept my skin matte all day, without having to apply powder more than once, which I have found with previous foundations. This skin was not too heavy either, thereby allowing the skin to breathe which is great, however my only criticism is that is was a little less coverage than I would like as I had to use quite a fair bit of concealer to cover blemishes, yet I would still highly recommend this foundation, particularly if you already have flawless skin anyway. What's more, this foundation has an amazing scent which is super fresh, and leaves a beautiful to the skin making it look healthy and radiant. I would rate this 9/10, and at £6.99 this is a bargain for quality.  

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Next I recently received these gorgeous Cheryl Cole lashes from Eylure and they are so amazingly natural, perfect false lashes for the glamorous party season, designed to enhance the natural beauty of your eyes. Fabulous, flirty and flexible they are suitable for all eye shapes and all occasions, with an ultra- lightweight feel. Normally, I'm not a huge fan of false lashes, I normally just prefer to use lashings of mascara to create that desired intense eye look, however these are so natural that they aren't too obvious your wearing them. These lashes just add thickness, but not enough to look 'fake', they also have a subtle winged out effect on the edges which can match your best mascara, creating a really natural, yet beautiful evening look. As always from this range, they are easy to apply with glue included, and reusable. Just make sure you leave the glue for a few minutes until tacky so they stick better, and then gently place on the lash line with tweezers to make sure they are on securely and correctly. Be sure to place the lash on your lash line to measure before applying the glue, the check it lines up correctly, and trim any excess if need be. I finish by applying a coat of mascara over the top of the false lashes to bind them to the natural ones, creating a seamless natural look. Cheryl herself says: "I love the volume of my lashes. Gorgeous, subtle and versatile they can be worn day or night." I would rate these 10/10 as they are the best, most natural lashes I have ever tried. Priced at £5. 

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Next I have been loving this splendidly silky moisturizing conditioner from Percy & Reed. It is specifically designed for parched hair, which is often a result of the harsh conditions in which winter brings. This conditioner therefore treats your hair spectacularly, giving it the attention it needs to repair itself. I discovered this as a sample in Glamour a while ago, recently started using it regularly the other week and it has already done wonders for my hair. My favorite thing about this product is that it smells unbelievably fantastic, you have to try it if not just for the smell.    

Splendidly Silky Moisturizing Conditioner is packed with moisture infusing marvels;

• Blueberry Extract which helps to neutralise and protect the hair from free radicals.
• Grape Seed Oil which is rich in vitamins, minerals and protein.
• Sweet Almond Oil; rich in Vitamin E and known to help reduce hair fall.
• Lastly Aloe Vera Gel which detangles, moisturizes, heals and smoothes dry and damaged hair.

All these ingredients combine quite beautifully, to hydrate and deeply nourish your hair, creating luscious looks with added shine, to give you that luxurious treatment that your hair is in need of this time of year. I would give this product 9/10, priced at £16, you can buy any product from this range on their website: http://www.percyandreed.com/

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My favorite winter moisturizer this season has to be this one from Clinique, its best-selling dramatically different moisturizing lotion. It helps to duplicate the moisture naturally occuring in the skin to provide comfort and balance to your skin. It is such a hydrating moisturizer that you only need a tiny amount on dry areas only, which naturally occur in the winter season even if you
don't normally have dry skin. I like to put this on before bed so it nourishes and moisturizes my skin throughout the night, so I wake up with refreshed and hydrated glowing skin. Also great as a day cream and acts as a good base for make-up. Winner of the Zest Skin Care Awards for Best Day Cream. I would highly recommend this moisturizer and give it a strong 9/10, the only reason why it is not full marks is due to the price which is a little higher than I would like to pay at
£17, however, it is a highly-rated product unsurprisingly as shown by the results.

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I discovered this Opulash Optimum Black mascara by M.A.C last Christmas as a gift, and I have brought another one since. Whats great about this is the huge and slightly scary brush which is MAC's most bodacious one yet, indicating just how voluminous it makes your lashes. It combines a new formula in a more saturated intense black, with extra voluminization, expansion and curl delivered dramatically. It is perfect for the Christmas party season for all the special occasion events where that desired glamorous and shockingly intense eye look is ideal. If that doesn't persuade you, it lasts 15 hours! This incredible staying power requires quite a strong eye make up remover, as the mascara is literally bullet proof, and most importantly will not flake onto your face throughout the day. I would give this mascara 9/10, and it is £14. This would also make a great gift; I received it last year and loved it, so if you need a stocking filler this is perfect. 

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I have used my Tangle Teezer now for a few months, and I honestly would not be without it! If you haven't heard of it before, it is an innovative, revolutionary hair brush which will literally get out any tangle whatsoever with no pain, no matter what style hair you have. So impressive are the results, that it has taken the beauty industry by storm overnight. It is the original professional detangling brush, containing a unique teeth configuration which flexes upon contact with tangles, thereby making brushing your hair easy and stress free by removing tangles- not your hair! It delivers impressive results on both wet and dry hair, I particularly like using this after washing my hair when it is damp, as it removes all the tangles before blow drying, what's more it is quick too. It also works on extensions and weaves, so it will work on literally anyone. It really is your hair care saviour and a true detangling solution. Tangle Teezer Original is the only brush that is literally changing lives. "Don't change your lifestyle; change your hairbrush". It is also the perfect compact size so ideal for taking with you on the go, and for travelling especially. Available also in several colours, I brought mine on Amazon for £9.99 and would rate it without a doubt 10/10. 

Available here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tangle-Teezer-Professional-Detangling-Hairbrush/dp/B00264NW7G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354809624&sr=8-1