Illamasque and Beautybay Haul!

Seeing as I am now living a budgeted life mehhhh I opted for one last make-up splurge and what with a 50%, 60% and 70% sale happening at Illamasque how could one resist?! and with my scrolling thumbs in action I somehow stumbled onto the Beautybay website which could've only resulted in one thing. I call them the 'necessary essentials' but a nail varnish in a slightly darker maroon than the one I bought 2 weeks ago doesn't really count, even if it does have more of a shine to it. 

As the deliveries came through the door the words I must hear every week filled my house; 

"Clare!! Do you need anymore bloody makeup?!?!" 

YES MUM. Yes I do. Some people just don't understand do they? Is anyone else's mum the same haha! So opening this little black box my eyes just became wider and wider with excitement, I'd say somewhere along the lines of..

by the way, I have no idea who this child is!

My relationship with palettes are pretty intense, the amount of satisfaction you get from opening that lid and seeing the colours, know what I mean?! So first I bought this reflection palette for get this.. £10.20! YES £10.20, reduced from £34.00 which if you ask me is fricking spot on. The palette is a combination of 4 highly pigmented shades perfect for blending! This sale ends in 2 days by the way so if you wanna grab this absolute stunner of a bargain get on that website and get buying!

Now I'm not really one for buying individual eyeshadows, I find them to be space consuming and overly priced but once I found these two beautiful colours on their website I couldn't pass on the opportunity (especially with them being on sale).

So I treated myself to these neutral colours which I thought would be perfect for both day and night time as well as being blended with each other to create a stunning feminine look!

 The first is in the colour 'Soul' which is a cool silver with a shimmer finish - get it here.

Second, is the colour 'Dizzy' which is a matte dusty rose - get it here.

Both of which were £6.20, reduced from £15.50!

Onto Beautybay! This is my first purchase from here which is why I may of went a little OTT on the Zoeva products. I've heard nothing but good things about them, especially the brushes and cat wing eyeliner pen! Therefore they were obviously purchased.

I'm not really one for blushes, but I saw this colour and fell IN LOVE! It gives me what I can only describe as a 'radiant' glow which I don't get with other blushes which is why I'm not really their number 1 fan but this lasted me from the second it was applied to the second it got washed off my face. It's a sort of natural peachy brown which is perfect for me and as well as it being matte the application is as easy as 1, 2, 3. I bought the same 'burning up and you can get it here for only £6.95!

With me being someone who likes to prepare themselves for the future (ha!) I found this gorgeous summery lip crayon, once again by Zoeva! I think I fell for the name most of all it's called 'silly love', don't ask me why but I just fell in love. It's definitely a keeper for summer as the shade has a practically perfect shine to it and the colour is definitely on point for those days when you want to wear minimal makeup but still look presentable! This little beauty was a mere £5.95 and you can get it here! 

Okay so back to my second palette that I most probably didn't need but still bought anyway haha! This is part of beautybay's own collection and just looking at it makes me so fricking excited to try all of the colours. It's called the 'Flawless Couture Eyeshadow Palette' and get this, another bargain over here waahoooo £7.50!! Can you even believe that? The shades are neutral and can be used on any skin tone allowing each and every one of you little beauties to create a range of different looks from natural and glowing to bold and sultry. It's seriously all I could ever need in one palette! I'm yet to try most of the eyeshadows but I decided to wear a dark brown shimmer today just on the crease to add a bit of definition to my eyes! Go and get yourself one here!

Back to the Zoeva range which by the way if any of you have not yet tried something from it seriously go do so. The quality of the products is some of the best i've ever seen and for the price, one simply cannot complain! I've seen so many blog posts on their 'cat eye pen' all of which have been good. Now I don't really like to branch out on trying different makeup especially if it means betraying my beloved Collection liquid eyeliner which has held a place in my makeup bag since the day I learnt to apply it but I can't believe I'm saying this, I think it may be getting replaced *GASP* I know!! This eyeliner is friiiiiicking brilliant! I'm all for that dramatic flick anytime of the day and this does the job. Go get yourself one for £5.50 right about here!

Last but not least I added yet ANOTHER maroon nail varnish to my collection. I thought I might as well try one if they're there and they're only £2.50! So I got the shade 'Santa Monica Boulevard' it sorta reminds me of a deep red wine colour and if I say so myself it looks lovely with all my dark colored clothes I've been wearing recently such as khaki, black and navy! I know I need to start planning my spring wardrobe but when the weather's like this and I loose all feeling in my fingers as soon as I leave the house I think I can hold onto my winter wardrobe a little bit longer! There's a load of other colours from this range so go grab yourself one here!

So that's all for this post guys!
Have any of you bought anything from the Zoeva range or Illamasque? Let me know in the comments!

Bye now! xxx

NYX

While I've been away I couldn't help but indulge in a little shopping, with signs everywhere screaming '50% off!' And 'REBAJAS!!' (that's Spanish for sales!) I couldn't help myself! I'm always one for makeup shopping when I'm abroad because I find things to be a lot cheaper than back home in the UK especially with some of the higher end brands like Dior and YvesSaintLauren! So when I found a 'NYX' counter in one of the shops here I literally couldn't contain my excitement, unfortunately the counter was quite bare so I decided to stock up on the things that I liked i.e. the 'soft matte lip creams', they seemed to be the more popular items! I bought myself 2 colours which are fairly similar, first I thought I'd try the shade 'Abu Dhabi' which to me resembled a extremely matte version of MACs Velvet Teddy but a little darker depending on how many coats you put on. I can't even describe how soft and comfortable it feels on the lips, it's almost as if someone has covered my lips in cream, they're ridiculously smooth and not to mention they smell amazing, sort of like a vanilla/chocolate scent, I have to resist licking my lips every 10 seconds! After I bought that one I decided to try a different a different colour but with the counter being so bare the only colours left were nudes or bright pinks, now I'm not one for bright colours especially pink! What with my skin tone and hair colour it just doesn't look right on me so I opted for another nude colour called 'London' which is basically the same as 'Abu Dhabi' but a tincy wincy bit lighter, as you can see from the photo there's not much difference!

This year I've decided to try and be a bit more adventurous so to speak with my makeup, by makeup I'm talking along the lines of contouring and highlighting! I couldn't even tell you how many YouTube videos I've watched of different peoples versions of contouring and highlighting, my personal favourite has got to be Amelia Lianas video, she goes into so much detail on how to create the perfect look, definitely go have a look if you haven't already! So I picked up this HD concealer in the shade fair just because my skin is already pale so I choose a foundation slightly darker to make me not look so much like Wednesday Addams! I've found that using this, along with a good contour, under my eyes and down the bridge of my nose it slims my face and makes my skin look a lot brighter and fresher! Also, it covers any unwanted blemishes and redness which for me is an absolute lifesaver!

Back to lips! Now, 2014 was all about the overly lined lips and dark matte lipsticks, thanks to Kylie Jenner of course! Now nearly every girl wants to resemble her and I am definitely not shy to say I'm one of them! So my 3rd purchase from NYX was obviously a lip liner in the shade '831 MAUVE'. To me it's basically a dupe of MACs 'whirl' also used to create Kylie's bold lips, so if you've got a NYX counter anywhere near you and like me you don't have the dolla to spend on MAC makeup this is a cheaper and just as good alternative! First, I use the pencil to line the lips and then go on to colour the lips in fully to create the look I want! Some people may use 2 similar shades to create an ombré effect but the one colour is good enough for me! I may go on to go over the lips with a matte lipstick or just simply leave the lips the way they are. 

Well! I hope this has given some of you a little inside into the world of NYX, if you're yet to try their stuff i'd definitely recommend you doing so as soon as! I don't think I'm yet to find a NYX counter in the UK but they do have a website that you can order from! If any of you would be ever so kind, I'm looking for another shade of the soft matte lip creams in the colour 'Copenhagen' I think it may be available only in the US but I have fell head over heels in love with it so if any of you lovely people know where I can get it from, give me a shout!

Let me know if any of you have tried any of the NYX products and which ones you're loving!

Bye now! Xxx

Gift Guide #1: Gifts under £15 for her!

Nothing like a double blog post on a Sunday evening!
Told you all I'd be over-doing it on the Christmas posts this month..
If like me and you're completely and utterly hopeless with finding gifts for your friends then this post will be incredibly helpful (i hope!) Last year I was helped by videos from the lovely Fleur De Force, I literally bought near enough everything I saw on her videos for my mum, dad, sister and some of my friends so maybe, just maybe I could help you lot if you're a bit stuck on what to get! The majority of these I'd class as stocking fillers (mostly for beauty lovers) which to me, I think are so much better than one big present.
BONUS: they're all under £15 so nothing too pricey!

Mini Nivea Treats Bauble - Superdrug
Mushroom Mug - Topshop
Essie Duo Kit - Boots
'The Jolly Lippy Lolly' - The Body Shop
Lipstick Pyramid - Topshop
Revlotuion 144 Eyeshadow Collection - Superdrug
Soap and Glory Bauble - Boots
Zoella Beauty Bag - Feel Unique
MAC Lipstick - MAC
(yes I know they're £15.50 but still, 50 pence can't hurt!)

So there you go. Fingers crossed I've helped a little if any of you were getting a bit stuck on what you can buy for a friend or family member! I know I'd be so happy if I received these as gifts!

Bye now! xxx

2014 Christmas Wishlist!

Happy Friday!

If you're a nosey bugger like me then you must love to delve into the wonderfulness that is other peoples Christmas lists! eeeeppp

After having read about a gajillion blog posts on other peoples lists I've decided to create my own! I know the prices vary from high street prices to quite expensive items but one can only wish! Enjoyyy..

Pandora Wreath Ring - Pandora

White iPhone 6 - Apple

Canon EOS 1200D DSLR - Currys

Charlotte Tilsbury Matte Lipstick in 'Walk of Shame' - Charlotte Tilsbury

Charlote Tilsbury Matte Lipstick in 'Glastonberry' - Charlotte Tilsbury

Zoella Beauty Bag - Superdrug

Crocodile Chain Trim Boots - River Island

Faux Snake Skin Purse - Topshop

Hopefully this has given you a little inspiration for your christmas wishlist and if any of you have written one, leave the link below!

Bye now! xxx

July Favourites 2014!

Joining in with the whole 'favourites' hype!

So if you don't know what a monthly favourite post is you've certainly been living under a rock for the past gazillion years! 

These are by far my favourite types of posts, I love reading all about the different things that people are using and it's seriously the best way to find out which product is the best, providing it comes from a good source of course.. This is my first favorites post anyway so apologies if I start to babble on, I get a littttttle bit carried away!

First I'll start with the beauty bits:

So recently I went to superdrug with my mumma! This is never a good idea for me, I'm the type of person to get caught up in the whole 3 for 2's and what not! Then I end up spending £££ at the till. 

Now I'm not normally one for skincare lotions and things like that but after watching Zoellas video where she mentioned Simple Skincare I thought I'd give some of their products a go. My skin has recently become quite bad on my face & it's the most depressing thing I've ever come across! I'm not really used to having spots and things like that so this was a huuuuuge shock!! So I picked up the Simple Skincare 'kind to skin purifying cleansing lotion' & it's made such a difference to my face, my skin feels so much softer and replenished and it has no artificial perfume or colour which is a big thing for me with having sensitive skin!

Next I ventured into the makeup section, which is my weakness (I love it really) and after my horrendous breakout I decided I needed a concealer that gave me more coverage! Now normally I use the 'Lasting Perfection Concealer' by The Collection which is my lifesaver on bad skin days!! But that just wasn't working for me this time and so I decided to change from a liquid concealer to a stick concealer & it was such a good decision!

I picked up the Rimmel 'Hide The Blemish' concealer, it's hands down my favourite one I have ever bought! It covers practically everything.. Dark circles, blemishes and redness! It only cost me £3.99 aswell and it lasts soooo long, I've had it for around 5-6 weeks now and I've used it near enough everyday & I'm only just coming to the end. I'd recommend this so much if you're looking for a flawless finish on your skin or a more even skin tone without wearing a hell of a lot of makeup!

Next I got this little beauty in a set called 'The Beauty Parade' by Benefit about a year ago and I've never used it until I was on a night out & realised that my concealer had faded and so had my eyeshadow, safe to say.. I was fuming! So I thought I'd try it out and oh lordyyyy it's so good, my makeup stayed on all night without even smudging. All you have to do is apply a few dots where you're putting your say concealer or eyeshadow and it's as simple as that! 

Now I'm not normally one for buying high end makeup, I prefer to find dupes or things that are just as good but I couldn't find anything that compared to this! I bought it while I holiday last month and got a little deal so it only cost me €22, which I think it about €17 maybe.. I could be wrong! But I absolutely love it, I bought it in the shade number 2 which is a very pale but flattering shade. I apply a few strokes of the brush underneath my eyes and on the tops of my cheeks, it adds so much light to your face and brightens your face in general. It's a little pricey but definitely worth it!

I always say to myself 'you should stick to what you know best' now I'm not saying you shouldn't try new things but me personally I just love having the same routine so I don't get muddled up or confused by new things! So my last beauty favourite is definitely my all time favourite makeup brush which is the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, this is by far one of the best investments I've ever made, not that it's pricey or anything (I think mine was £9.99 in Superdrug!) but I just mean you can get such a good wear out of it! By the looking at the picture you can probably tell it needs a good cleaning because I use it everyday, but I just absolutely love it & if you don't own one of these, seriously get off your tush and go buy one now!

Next onto the fashion part, because I work so much I never really have time to wear my own clothes as my days just consist of sleeping in and staying in the house in my pyjamas! So I thought I'd buy myself a pair of everyday shoes that will practically go with near enough everything I wear. I picked up these Nike Roshe Runs, you may not think they'd go with a lot of things but you'd be surprised! I recently wore these with a pair of denim shorts, a black cami top and my New Look kimono and I absolutely loved the outfit! They give any outfit a sort of laid back look and i'm all for that. Now these are a size 4 which according to Foot Asylum they're for juniors.. I'm not complaining because they were £25 cheaper than the 'adult' sizes but if you were wondering why you couldn't find a size 4 in the adults section it's because they're in the kids department!

My second fashion favorite of July is this t-shirt from River Island.. but I got it off Depop! Don't get me wrong, I love dressing up in heels and a dress and what not but there's nothing better than a slouchy t-shirt that you can just lounge around in, ever since this arrived I haven't had it off my back. I love these sort of tops because they're so easy to style and you can wear them with everything, me personally this is just a top to go with my trainers and leggings when I can't really be bothered making much of an effort! Sadly I don't think they're selling it anymore but you could probably buy it second hand like me for cheaper. 

Another winner from River Island are these adorable pastel earrings! I bought them a few weeks ago when I was just having a look through the shop and I fell in love with the colour. Sadly, one of the little diamontes have fell out around the edges but it's barely noticeable! They look really classic and vintage and add a little edge to an outfit. These cost me £5 and if you fancy them, get them here! 

My last fashion favourite of July is this little beaut of a clutch bag from none other than Zara! I nipped in (everyday) while I was on holiday last month because their sale was just UNREAL. I literally had no words for it. I saw this on the top shelf and it was the very last one, I know that sounds like the biggest cliche ever but I just fell in love with it and I couldn't help myself! I love how it just 'spruces' up a plain outfit, I recently paired it with some Mom jeans from Topshop and a stripey crop top from Stradivarius on a night out and I felt like it just tied the whole outfit together.

 So that's all for my July favorites! Let me know in the comments what you've been loving in July.

Bye now! xxx

REVIEW: MAC Twig

Hello again!

I thought I'd do a little something different today for you lovely lot so I've decided to do a review on a new lipstick that I am completely and hopelessly in love with, sad I know. I recently went into the MAC store in Liverpool, now I'm not normally one for MAC makeup but I've been loving their matte lipsticks recently and one by one my collection just seems to be growing and I can't see myself stopping anytime soon! I went in for a new lip liner after searching the internet for Kylie Jenner's exact lip color, luckily for me.. she decides to change it every week, woop dee doo! I finally settled for Velvet Teddy by MAC a few weeks ago after seeing that it was probably the closest I was going to get. 

So on this trip like I said I went in for a lip liner but again found myself lurking around the lipstick stand and this color just caught my eye! I actually love it. It doesn't make my lips feel dry like a lot of drug store lipsticks and as well, it LASTS!! I've worn this on shift in work for about 8/9 hours and it's lasted me all the way through, I think I only had to apply it twice but that's good enough for me! I've found with MAC lipsticks as well they appear to make my lips look bigger, as if I've had botox for the past 10 years, I'm not complaining though, the bigger the better! 

I just thought I'd share my views on this lippy & if you love it, go buy ittttt! It's so worth it.

Or if you fancy buying it online, here's the link!

Bye now! xxx