Wilko Have Done it Again!

You may remember in August last year I wrote this post raving about Wilkinson's gorgeous range of affordable stationary. Well you'll never guess what? They've gone and done it again and this time the range is, if possible, even cuter.

Project Book: £2.75 | Exercise Book: £1 | Colouring Book: £1| Desk Planner: £2

I'm an absolute stationary fiend and have been using my Wilko organiser religiously since the beginning of the year to keep track of my schedule and to do lists. There's nothing I like better than writing a list and getting organised because it makes me feel in control during the chaos that is a university semester. When I write things down, not only do I remember them, but I am so much more likely to actually get them done.

As summer approached, one of the things I was looking forward to was Wilkinson's new stationary collection (is that sad?). This new range, called 'Enterprising Britain' has a beautiful colour scheme of pink and mint; each page is fully lined and coloured; and there is an uplifting theme of positivity and affirmation. But the best part? Nothing in the range costs more than £4! I've said it before and I've said it again, I think the quality and design of Wilkinson stationary easily rivals more expensive brands. It took a lot of willpower not to buy the entire collection.

Have you bought any stationary from Wilko?

Ted Baker Makeup Bag DUPE £2.99

As you can probably tell from looking at my blog for two seconds, I am a sucker for anything dusty pink, vintage-looking, rose gold or floral (aren't all bloggers?) 

So, you can imagine my utter excitement when I was in Home Bargains of all places and spotted this makeup bag for only £2.99! It reminds me so much of something you'd see in Ted Baker - at only a fraction of the price. This was too good not to share. 

It is wipe-clean, has a rose pink lining, is the perfect size to hold all my makeup and has rose gold hardware. I hardly needed another makeup bag but who could say no at that price? Even the tag is cute and has a little 'To... From' if you want to give it as a gift. I imagine these will sell out fast.

New Watch!

However superficial it may be, I wear watches as accessories rather than to tell me the time. I just use my phone for the time- maybe quite a lot of you do too. I don't wear a watch religiously either, so I don't spend lots of money on them. When rose gold watches first became popular, I was extremely pleased at myself for finding a Michael Kors dupe on Missguided for around £20. I then replaced that with a €10 number from Penny's (Irish Primark) last summer. However, I have a really, really weird tendency to lose watches. Of all the things to lose you'd think that wouldn't be one of them but somehow I take them off and never see them again. Maybe one day I'll stumble upon a secret cove of all my watches from days gone by. As it stood a couple of weeks ago though, I needed a new watch. Since I'd had two, I was pretty much over the solid rose gold and wanted something a bit different. I found this khaki/ mauve watch with a rose gold face in New Look for only £12.99 (plus 10% student discount). It's smart and goes with pretty much all my outfits because I'm really into subtle shades right now like pale pink, navy, camel and white. I really like it and think it looks more expensive than it actually was. This is also the first picture I've ever posted where my nails aren't a bitten mess. My new years resolution was to grow them and so far I have had them long 4 or 5 times - but I can't keep it up. They were nice for this picture though! 
Do you splurge or save when it comes to watches?

Sleek Face Form Palette in 'Light'

I stumbled upon these pictures in my 'To Post' folder from around a year ago and I can't believe the length of time I have been using the Sleek Face Form Palette without writing a rave review about it. I had read lots of great things about Sleek palettes before taking the plunge and buying one of my own. Coming in at £9.99, its more than I would usually spend on 1 high street makeup item so I had to do that thing where I go into Boots, look, swatch, and leave at least 3 times before I actually bought it. I am so glad I did though because I haven't stopped using it since. 

The packaging is really simple - a wipe clean black- and the palette contains a large mirror which is ideal for when you are applying on the go. I realised my initial hesitation at the cost was unnecessary as you're getting 3 full sized products: a blush, a highlight and bronzer/ contour for £10. Each shade is great quality and applies easily. The swatches actually don't do their pigmentation justice. 

The blush is a lovely rose pink and its gold shimmer acts as a highlighter in itself.  The highlight is a very pale pink/ white but not chalky in the slightest. The highlight is actually my least used of the three as I prefer a more gold based highlighter and my favourite is the MAC MSF in Soft & Gentle. However, the absolute stand out of the palette, and probably worth the £9.99 itself is the contour shade. I went through many drugstore bronzers trying to find one that would work as a contour but they were all too orange, shimmery or difficult to blend. This matte brown works excellently with my skin tone as a contour shade and I apply it with the Real Techniques Contour Brush (reviewed here). 

This is definitely the best cheek & contour palette I have found so far. I am still quite far from hitting pan on the blush and highlight so I might see if I can purchase the contour shade individually as I just couldn't go without it. 

What is your favourite Sleek product?

Makeup Revolution Iconic 2 Palette

I can't quite believe that I'm typing this but I think my MUA eyeshadow palettes have finally been knocked off their podium of my most unbeatable and most used eyeshadows. Elf couldn't do it, Accessorize couldn't do it, even the Naked Palette couldn't. Who is the new kid on the block you might ask? Well, it probably won't be new to many of you because I was very behind when it came to jumping on the Makeup Revolution bandwagon. 

For £4 in the Makeup Revolution Iconic 2 palette you get 12 gorgeous neutral colours: a mix of matte and shimmer. It ranges from pearly nudes to classic shimmery browns to golds to muted grey. This palette is my only go to at the moment where previously I would use 2/3 at once. The colours are so pigmented but there is very little fall down during application. They blend out really well and harmonise with each other really nicely. You can achieve so many different looks with this from simple daytime to dramatic smoky for night. I find this palette to work best over the top of Maybelline's Color Tattoo in On and On Bronze to lock the shades in place. 

I can't believe how long it took me to buy one of these palettes considering the storm they've caused in the blogging world. The amount of comments on blogs I've written saying 'I've still to try this' or 'I must give this a go'! For £4 it is definitely worth it- even if like me you already have eyeshadow palettes coming out of your ears. My MUA palettes aren't completely forgotten about and will no doubt make a return when the initial infatuation with MakeupRev dulls, but even then, this palette is a strong contender for HG and will definitely be a repurchase. 

Most Used Makeup Brushes

Hey Everyone!
Today, with my makeup brushes freshly washed (a task which had become way overdue), I thought I'd talk a bit about which ones I use most frequently and what for. I don't see many, if any, of these kinds of posts around but I would be really interested to read other peoples as often makeup brushes can be used for a variety of applications outside of what they're designed for. 
I have 3 main brands of make up brushes that I use: Real Techniques (love these!), Elf and Scarlett & Crimson (bought in the Boots January sale a couple of years ago). I've yet to invest in any high end makeup brushes: I've had my eye on MAC ones for ages but to be honest I'm scared they won't live up to their price and I'll be disappointed. 

From left to right: Real Techniques Stippling Brush: This is my HG makeup brush (if that is a thing). I've used it everyday since I bought it and I find it is best to apply foundation although also works well for cream blush. I think it might be time to buy a new one though as because the bristles are so dense and I use it so often, it is stained and doesn't wash up as well as the others. Real Techniques Pointed Foundation Brush: I'm not at all into this kind of brush for foundation as I think its hopeless at blending, especially from the face to the neck, but recently I've been using it to apply concealer and it works a treat. Its just the right size and shape. S&C Powder Brush: While this brush does tend to shed the odd hair, it applies bronzer and blush really nicely and picks up just the right amount of product. Its also really soft after a wash. Real Techniques Contour Brush: This is one of the brushes I use as it is supposed to be used: for contouring the hollows of the cheeks and hairline etc. It works perfectly with Benefit Hoola bronzer and again is the perfect size and shape. It also applies highlighter really well. Real Techniques Buffing Brush: It took me a while to get to grips with this brush: I used it for a while for foundation but found it didn't provide as good coverage as the stippling brush. I also used it for powder but it was just too dense. I've settled using it as a base blender- taking away any harsh lines, and I think this is how it works best. Elf Professional Bronzing Brush: I don't think the angle of this brush makes it the best for bronzing but it is great for blush, or as I use it, for highlight. It applies my MAC MSF beautifully and really quickly.  Elf Professional Eyelash & Brow Wand: I use this for running through my brows before I fill them in to take away any foundation or concealer that are sitting from base application. This is also a really handy tool for plucking my eyebrows. S&C Sponge Brush and Blender Brush: I'm improvising with the names of the S&C brushes because they don't actually have any. I have 3 eye brushes that I use religiously: these two and the next. I know most people hate sponge eyeshadow brushes but I find them really easy to use and they don't waste any product. I use the blender brush continuously as I apply each shade which I find to increase the lasting power of the eyeshadow. Elf Professional Lip Defining Brush: I've never been one to use lip brushes, and since this is pretty soft and fluffy, I use it to apply darker eyeshadows to the crease, outer corner and lower lashline. Its a really good size and density for each of these jobs. Powder Brush: I've had this for so long that the brand name has actually rubbed off but its pretty much a standard, super soft powder brush that applies powder liberally. Elf Professional Eyeshadow Brush & Wilko Eyeshadow Brush: I don't use these brushes very frequently but they've been included because they're in my makeup brush holder. These aren't as good as the eyeshadow brushes I've already mentioned, but are alright to apply a bit of matte brown to the crease on top of my Maybelline Color Tattoo. 
I didn't realise I would go into quite so much detail in this post- well done if you got through it! I like that most makeup brushes will last a good few years as long as you look after them. I was recently treated to the Real Techniques Starter Set (eye brushes) for my birthday. I've had my eye on them for the longest time but its taking me a while to integrate them into my everyday routine. When I'm more familiar I'll maybe do a full review.
What are your favourite makeup brushes? Which ones should I try?

Summer 2014 Primark Haul

Hey Everyone!
When I initially set out to do this post, it was going to be a collective haul but in the process of picture taking I realised that I've bought enough from Primark over the past few weeks to justify a whole post of its own. Primark hauls (both videos and blog posts) are probably my favourites as it gives you a chance to see whats in store. 
I've been buying mainly for my holidays to Portugal and Greece (which are both really soon woo!). I try not to spend too much on summer clothes because I don't get a whole lot of wear out of them as the Scottish weather is so unpredictable (though for once this year it has been pretty decent). I've also found myself going around Primark picking up random bits and bobs and thinking 'I'll find somewhere to wear that!'.

My most recent purchases are the pink playsuit (£14), printed trousers (£11) and foil tee (£8). I love the playsuit and trousers- they're both surprisingly comfortable and they don't look like they're from Primark at all (although I have a feeling that the trousers will be seen on everyone and their granny in the next few weeks). I was, and still am, a little uncertain about the foil top as something about it reminds me of wrapping paper. 
I've never noticed in previous years but this summer Primark's range of swimwear is fab. I personally don't see the point in spending over £30 on a bikini in Topshop (although they are gorgeous) if you're just going to wear it a couple of times when you can get one for just over £10 in Primark. I can't remember exact prices for the rest of my loot because its been a while since I bought it but I think the sunglasses were all between £2 and £3. The cami tops (<£4) are really light and comfortable although I do feel the need to wear a strapless bra underneath rather than having straps showing. I loved the colours of the tropical top (~£4) although its a bit see through. As you can see, I've been suffering a bit of an addiction to the printed shorts. These are loose and pyjama-like which is perfect for the warm weather and paired with one of the cami tops they make a cute, lightweight outfit. Finally, the denim shorts £10 are a really good fit and are similar to ones for treble the price in Topshop. Also worth mentioning, but not photographed, is my new silicon mint phone case which I got for only £1. Considering the difficulty I've faced trying to get a reasonable priced cover- I thought I'd share. Despite Primark's affordable prices, my bank account is still crying itself to sleep at night after all this. The same cannot be said for me though- I'm so excited to wear it.
What have you picked up in Primark lately?

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water Review

Hey Everyone!
You have probably seen review after review of Garnier Micellar Water as its release has caused quite a storm in the blogsphere but I'm just going to add my tuppence worth and hope that the fact I'm now on my second bottle can provide you with more of an  insight than you have already. 

I originally bought this back in February as an affordable alternative to the amazing Bioderma. When I bought it in Superdrug it was on an introductory offer so was about £3.50. I've never delved into Garnier skincare before, in fact, until recently I hadn't really delved into any skincare besides my Simple Moisturiser. I finally realised that I needed to implement a skincare routine because my skin has went from bad to worse over the last few months, and an essential part to every skincare routine is makeup remover.
I use this with a small round cotton pad to remove my makeup at the end of the day. I usually use around four pads to make sure every spot of make up is gone. I've read on quite a few blogs that people find this a lot easier to pour than alternatives such as the L'Oreal Micellar Water. In my opinion, its actually pretty easy to pour too much onto the pad. I do really like the amount of product you get though- 400ml is pretty generous for the price. It claims that you will get 200 uses which, having now finished one bottle, I would agree with. Though remember, with four uses a day, you might have to repurchase more than you think.
I love that this cleansing water just grabs any make up it comes into contact with- even eye makeup, without much rubbing.  It does nip my eyes slightly but this is the case with every makeup remover I've tried so its not a big deal. I just need to remember to close my eyes tight. I really like the simple packaging and the fact that you can see how much you have left. It has a very clean scent which is pleasant but it doesn't seem overly natural to me- though the bottle does say 'No Perfume.' 
The one problem I had with this was when I had to take it travelling. I couldn't take the full 400ml bottle as I wasn't checking in baggage so I had to transfer it to a smaller bottle which proved to be quite the problem. The cap isn't designed to be removed, so in my attempts I broke a little bit off which made the bottle leak when it wasn't upright for the rest of the time I had it. The actual micellar water didn't fair too well in the travel bottle as it turned out- the liquid seemed to separate and form a white precipitate at the bottom. This gave me horribe flashbacks of the solubility problems I faced with my bio investigation. Not good. Moral of the story: don't attempt to transfer this to another bottle. I'm mighty relieved that now I have a fresh one. Perhaps Garnier should consider a travel size.
Other than that slight pickle I found myself in, I absolutely love this micellar water and I'm not even bothered about trying any other ones as I think this is the best dupe for Bioderma that I'll find. At the price of £4.99 a bottle, you definitely get your money's worth.
Have you tried it yet?

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation Review

Hey Everyone!

I'm sure you've already read a lot about Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation, but since I got this for Christmas and have been using it more or less everyday since, I thought I'd throw in my tuppence. 

I actually tried this months ago as a sample came free with ELLE magazine and I had a pretty bad experience. A colour that was way too dark + an extremely generous sample = disaster. I was firmly put off. However, now I have Ivory - shade 100 which I think is the lightest available. The fact that it actually matches my skin gives me a much better judgement of how good it is! 

Firstly, I really like the bottle as its glass rather than plastic which gives it a more expensive feel and really sharp and eye catching with the orange lid. The consistency is really smooth and pretty liquidy (liquidy isn't a word but you know what I mean!) and gives a light coverage. I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting with the name 'Wake Me Up', but thankfully it doesn't scream and pour freezing cold water on you at 6am but leaves your face noticeably radiant. It's very brightening and perfect for early mornings. 

What I was most concerned about when trying this foundation was the glitter flecks through it. I was relieved to discover that you can only see slight shimmer if a really bright light is shining on your face. For this reason, I would recommend it as an ideal winter foundation, though I'm not sure how well it would fare in summer (in Scotland it would probably work all year round!)

Something which is annoying about this foundation is that is doesn't stay in place all day. It transfers quite easily (hello glittery hands) and tends to gather in some areas of my face by the end of the day. I have went back to Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation on the odd day and I notice how well it stays in place compared to Wake Me Up, although it isn't as brightening.

Overall, for the price and visible complexion enhancing payoff, I would say this foundation is definitely worth a go, though I think I will revert to Lasting Finish when this runs out!

Battle of the Bargain Eyeshadow Primers- Elf v MUA

Hey Everyone!

You may know that I have a lot of trouble trying to keep my eye makeup on all day- from eyeshadow creasing to mascara smudging, the problems are endless. A few months ago I ordered elf's eyelid primer (£1.50) and for Christmas I got the MUA Professional Eyes Primer (£2.50). I'm sure you will agree that if nothing else, you certainly get a good price on these products.

In terms of packaging, I prefer MUA as I think it has a slightly higher quality feel, whereas the elf primer comes in the boggest of bog standard tubes. The applicators are very similar, if not identical. I find the formula of the MUA to be slightly 'wetter' and it goes further than the elf. Both provide a smooth, sheer base for my eyeshadow which I like texture-wise. However, neither primer ensures a crease free day! I would say MUA primer has a slightly longer lasting power, but essentially, neither will last more than a few hours. In all honesty, I think the products are very, very similar, perhaps even from the same retailer with different packaging. 

Neither works wonders, yet neither is an awful product. I will continue to use both as they do provide a nice even base for eyeshadow.

My favour leans slightly towards MUA, despite the fact its more expensive, I think it does the job a little more effectively and will last longer. For the price, I would at least give it a try!

New Makeup Storage

Hey Everyone!

For ages, my makeup lay hidden in a bag: out of sight, out of use. For Christmas though, I received this amazing acrylic makeup organiser which I am 100% in love with. It takes pride of place on my shelf, and its is so easy and convenient to find what I'm looking for. There is nothing I love more than different size compartments in an organiser. I think its really visually attractive too and is great decor. What I also love is that as I buy new products/ shop my stash I can alternate products so they get a fair usage. Perhaps I'll even post every time I switch up my current products.

The storage is available on ebay.

New Camera- Woohoo!

Hey Everyone!

Some of you may know that over Christmas my camera broke- sob. I guess that's what I get for letting my family use it! But anyway, we got a new one and I love it! Its the Canon PowerShot SX15 1S. It takes amazing pictures yet isn't overly complicated (though I have to get the hand of filming with it!) But the best news? It was only £69.99 in the Argos sale! Yay!

And just to show you how it compares to my old camera, here are two pictures of the same lipstick, the first with my old Fujifilm and the second with this!

So expect a whole lot of amazing pictures coming soon- I am loving using it and I'm taking heaps and heaps of pictures! 

Review | Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation

Hey Everyone!

I've been meaning to post about this foundation for a while, as I actually bought it a few months ago and have been using it since, but never actually got around to it, so with the new year comes good posting habits including frequent reviews (I am having deja vu just now, I feel like I've said that before!

I was initially attracted to this because of the affordable price and the fact that my current foundation was very nearly finished. Unlike with my usual makeup purchases, I had not seen many reviews on this, but in my opinion it deserves as much credit as other Rimmel foundations. 

It has a really nice consistency, very smooth and sinks into the skin easily, giving a medium coverage and feeling light on the skin. It is a perfect formulation for my normal/dry skin. Since using this I realised my Bourjois Flower Perfection had actually been drying my skin out. What is also great about this is that it really lives up to its 'transfer proof' claims and stays intact all day (I've not put it to the 25 hour test though as, let's face it, I need sleep!)

Its exactly what I need; its brightening, gives me an ideal coverage and is super affordable. It has lasted me around three months, which is pretty good, and I will definitely be considering repurchasing this in future!

Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation is available in Superdrug or Boots for £6.99.

Have you tried this? What are your thoughts?

My New Favourite Shop - TKMaxx

Hey Everyone!

To me, TK Maxx has always been a shop that's just kind of 'meh'- I would buy something occasionally, for a fair price. Either my vision was badly hindered or recently TK Maxx has become a whole lot better. 

Firstly, I love their clothing. They stock an enormous range of brands, often small boutiques, meaning your unlikely to be wearing the same as someone else. They strike the perfect combination between great quality, stylish clothing and an affordable price. 

I think TK Maxx is absolutely amazing for Christmas shopping. If I had to get all of my gifts in there- I would probably manage it. They have beautiful gift sets from many different brands including Cath Kidston and Baylis & Harding, all of course at a discount price. I also discovered while browsing a couple of weeks ago a great selection of elf cosmetics Christmas sets (my eyes were popping out of my head as you can imagine). Also, their Christmas section is like a winter wonderland- ooh you get excited just looking at the selection of baubles and stockings. And the home decor section is beyond describable- shabby chic galore.

I love the very strong American theme running through the shop. As a avid (verging on obsessive) viewer of many YouTubers from across the Atlantic, I often find myself thinking 'I wish we had that here' but TK Maxx meets that wish, stocking brands like elf and NYX. 

I can say, without doubt, that it is my favourite high street shop at the moment because of its huge variety and affordability.

Where is your one stop Christmas-shopping store?

Review | NYC Showtime Waterproof Mascara

I picked up NYC Showtime Waterproof Mascara in Superdrug for £1.99 as a kind of 'you will do until I find something better product' after my L'Oreal Telescopic ended smudging to the top of my cheekbones after only a few hours wear. I thought either it had a very short prime time or I needed something a little (or a lot) more long wearing. Without the £10.99 price tag (ouch!)

I was pretty much bang on the money with my first impression. This mascara is pretty much your average, not bad, not great product. The packaging is admittedly quite nice for how much it was. So far the writing has stayed intact and everything has stuck where it should be (classic signs of cheap packaging). The wand is pretty standard; straight, strong and brush-like without much flexibility or movement (which isn't necessarily a bad thing). The formula is quite dry which I like as I don't end up with mascara on my lid from blinking too quickly, yet it isn't too dry that it flakes. It definitely lives up to it claim of being waterproof, as it doesn't budge from my lashes even after a day at school (the ultimate test) and, what is most impressive, is that it is actually just as easy as a normal mascara to remove! No red eyes or endless scrubbing. 

However, it really doesn't do anything amazing for my lashes. It gives them a bit of definition, and can look decent if you apply 3 or so coats (I'm sorry, but who has time for that?) but it doesn't volumize or lengthen. For a natural, day to day, long wearing, affordable mascara, this is good. But, if you are looking for a bit of oomph- this isn't the product for you. 

I am still searching for a mascara that ticks all the boxes, and I now wonder whether I will need to wear a waterproof one all the time or whether there was just some weird smudging thing going on with my Telescopic.

Have you tried this mascara? Which one would you recommend?