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.

Matalan Beach Buys

Hey Everyone!
For me, when 'high street shops' are mentioned, I automatically think of around 5 well known, regularly hauled and hyped names. Topshop for those treat purchases, Primark for affordable basics and the odd treasure find, and so on. In all honesty, until a few weeks ago, if Matalan was mentioned, I would automatically think of clothes for older ladies and kids. How wrong I was. I popped in out of interest and was very pleasantly surprised. 

On my first trip I bought the royal blue bottom mismatched bikini. I like that the top and bottoms are sold separately as I am often a different size on top than on bottom and sometimes I like to switch up patterns. I also went in after work a couple of days ago for a quick look about in the hope they might have a few beach essentials. Their summer sale is now on and its absolutely brilliant. For £15 I got the aztec bandeau bikini top, tortoise bottoms, a beach towel and the beach bag! Matalan is definitely the place for last minute holiday bargains. I would absolutely recommend popping in- their range completely surpassed my expectations. 
Have you shopped in Matalan lately? Have you found any luckies?

Another Spring Primark Haul

Hey Everyone!

As promised (if a little late) here is what I've bought in Primark recently. This is quite a random selection of bits and bobs: they're mostly for summer/ holidays. You see I went into Primark before work a few weeks ago and I wanted pretty much everything I saw. But you know what always happens in these situations. I'd forgotten my purse. So, the next week I went in: card at the ready, and treated myself.

The first thing I spotted was this ditsy floral playsuit. Its very floaty on top (usually the opposite of what I'd go for) but it was a good price (about £10) and I'm a lover of playsuits in general, so I just had to get it. Its actually very nice on too. A great thing about it is the black which means I'll be able to put it over a pair of tights until the weather warms up a bit. I also picked up the navy, floral, pyjama-like shorts for £4 (ish- sorry, in all honesty I can't be bothered moving to find the receipt). They are super comfy and casual and will be perfect for warm days. Next up, a pair of white jeans which I've been coveting for a good while now. I think white jeans are a bit of a love/ hate item and I really want to love them. I think they're great at this time of year and I think they look great on other people so I'm going to make myself love them on me too. They're not a perfect fit, but they're good enough, and for £10 they're good value anyway. I then got this bodycon pale pink skirt with black lace for £3. Primark have a lot of skirts on sale at the minute so definitely have a look. I'm usually a skater skirt wearer all the way but since this was on sale I thought I'd pick it up in case I fancy a change. It is nice on I just feel like I need some sort of suction device to pull me in and smooth me out to make it wearable. Last up, this black and white aztec top. I think this was £5 and its my favourite item from the haul. The collar is trimmed with a little faux soft leather and the sleeves are a really unusual length (between short and medium) but they're soo cute. This top was positioned next to bright yellow handbags and I was very tempted to get one because I want something of that hue but then I said to myself 'Julz, do you really need another bag when you have just bought that bad boy of a Zara mini city bag?' The answer was of course no. 

So there we have it. This haul isn't as coordinated colour-scheme-wise as my last (here) but ah well- I feel like these have ensembles already awaiting in my wardrobe. Something I haven't done in ages is take like an hour to go through my wardrobe to put together new random outfits. I've put myself in the mood for it now. If only I had time!

I always end on a question related to the post, but today I'm going to be different since I have a creative writing piece due and I have no idea what to write about. Since you are all creative geniuses and give me inspiration all the time:

any ideas about what I can write a reflective essay/ drama/ poem on? lol

Wardrobe Staple: Biker Jacket

Hey Everyone!
Ok, so I'm a tad late to the party- but at least I've finally showed up! In truth I've wanted a faux leather biker jacket for ages but kept thinking 'No no its just a phase, they'll go out of style and they're too expensive anyhoo.' But in actual fact this style of jacket has been recurring  in shops for the past year or two and is still going strong. So, when I spotted this one in H&M I tried it on and loved it instantly. I decided to make myself wait a few weeks, just to make sure I definitely wanted it, and then purchased it online recently. 

The jacket is supposed to be £29.99 + P&P but I was extremely lucky and managed to find voucher codes online to get 25% off plus an extra £5 off- result! In the end I paid just over £20 which I think is the bargain of the century.
Since it arrived I've worn it a lot and can definitely see it being my go-to for autumn and winter. I love that it goes with many different outfits (I might actually do a How I Style post!) and is a really nice fit and shape.
This is available at H&M and don't forget to google discount codes!
Hope you're all having a good Friday 13th and haven't walked under any ladders or seen any black cats!

MUA Neutral Palettes - Swatches & Reviews

Hey Everyone!

I have to admit, no matter how adventurous I'm feeling- I'm a true neutral eye shadow gal at heart and 9 times out of 10 I'll be wearing one of these three MUA palettes. At only £4 a pop they're well worth a try. 

 

First up is Heaven and Earth- my first MUA palette! I've had a lot of use out of this- I used it everyday for the first few months after I bought it. It consists of 12 shimmery neutrals- creams, muted golds and browns. You can create anything from a bit of subtle depth to a full on, sultry, smokey eye. Its weird to say this about powder shadows but they're actually almost creamy in texture because they're so highly pigmented and soft so they blend very easily and there isn't a whole lot of fall out. I regret that I don't actually use this palette as much as I should- it will be perfect in the coming weeks with bronzed cheeks and a tan. The only disappointing thing about this is that the packaging broke- though this could just be down to how often its been used.

 

This is my favourite palette of the three! Undressed is made up of a mixture of mattes and shimmers, each very well pigmented, though the mattes aren't just as pigmented as the shimmers. Undressed is slightly more colourful than the Heaven and Earth palette, but the shades are so wearable and never get boring. The dusky pinks, golds, khaki, deep blue and taupes seem like a random selection, but they compliment each other amazingly. Never would I have thought of creating a smokey eye of rose blending into muted blue, but by golly it looks fab! Again a slight disappointment with the packaging though- the applicator fell apart just a few days after I got it. But the price and quality make this a HG item in my book. 

The Undress Me Too is a cooler version of Heaven and Earth- with more grey tones than gold. The packaging has changed to white which I think looks cleaner for longer, and is more sturdy. I can't say a whole lot about this as I haven't given it as much of a test run as the others- but from what I can tell it is another A* product. You can see from the swatches how highly pigmented the shades are.

Do you have any of these palettes? Which is your favourite?

Guest Post: Hayley Loves Favourite Products For Under £10

Hello! I'm Hayley from Hayley Loves at lastyearsheroxo.blogspot.co.uk and when Julz gave me an idea of what kind of post she wanted, I jumped at the chance of doing this - my favourite products for under £10. I've been quite naughty lately, and have neglected high street brands and gone more for high end, so this has definitely given me the incentive to head on to my local Boots and appreciate the beauty that is affordable make up products.

I didn't realise just how much I reached for my Colossal Volume Express Mascara until now. I use it nearly every day, it's perfect for creating effortless, separated, long lashes. Apply a couple more coats and you're set!

If I'm looking for more statement lashes, I nearly always reach for L'OrealVolumnious 4X Mascara.  I didn't expect much from quite a thin brush, but this never disappoints. It never clumps and it's really good to layer with, if I ever need to apply more later on.

Everyone loves a good MUA product, and their Flawless SkinPrimer has been a staple in my make up box recently. It creates a smooth, velvety base that isn't drying and really holds onto my foundation. 

On the subject of MUA, I adooooore the MatteFoundations that are like, £2! This is my go-to foundation when I just need some when I'm running a couple of errands, but don't need a full face. It's not really matte at all, it leaves me with a dewy finish, so I think maybe oily skinned people should look elsewhere. It's medium-full coverage is really thick, but easily blendable and covers all my blemishes. Definitely repurchasing. 

I needn't rave about the Brow Kit too much, as you're all aware of how incredible it is. I use it every day, a mixture of the dark and blonde powder and it rarely smudges. And that's all I'm gonna say about that!

A cult product, the Collection Lasting Perfection concealer will be a repurchase till the day they discontinue it. Okay so this shade is a little dark for me, but it blends so well it doesn't matter too much. It's perfect for under eyes and blemishes, you know, I don't know why I'm preaching to the choir!

Finally, most peoples go-to shade this Autumn/Winter, the Kate Moss Matte Lipstick in 107. This deep, wine shade flattered nearly every skin tone with it's blue undertones and was perfect day or night. I still wear this now. It's not drying, perfect for a statement lip, smells gorgeous and looks really, really nice... if I say so myself.

Thank you very much to the lovely Hayley for writing the first ever guest post on Julz' Obsessions! I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did- I'm having trouble restraining myself from running to Superdrug right now and buying it all!

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!

Bargain | Latest Thrift Finds

Hey Everyone!

Of all the great things I have taken from being part of the blogging community, I would say what I am most thankful for is loosing my 'snobbishness' towards thrift stores. I am constantly inspired by many of my favourite bloggers/ YouTubers putting together amazing outfits with second hand bargains. I am lucky enough to have a great area of vintage/ charity shops around 20 minutes from me and last weekend my mum and I took a little venture to them so I thought I would share my luckies. (Prepare for denim overload!)

Denim Shirt (Originally Primark) - £2

Denim Shorts (Originally Next) - £2

Dark Wash Skinnies (Originally H&M) - £2

Ornamental Glass Bottle - £1

Pretty good huh? I originally just wanted a pair of jeans to customise which is where the H&M ones came in but they are such a good fit I am just going to wear them as they are. I also came across the denim shirt and thought I could style it up really nicely. Then I got the shorts (I plan to cut, distress, dye and stud them!) and the glass ornament which actually sell for like £25 on fancy decor sites! 

Have you found any gems in thrift stores lately?

Bargain | Poundland Beauty Buys

Hey Everyone!

If you told me a couple of months ago that I would now be going into Poundland to pick up a few make up bits and bobs, I'd probably think you were crazy. Although I've always been a bargain lover, I have always had a bit of a sceptical attitude towards Poundland makeup, believing that you truly get what you pay for.

However, unless you've been living under a beauty blogging rock for the past few weeks, you will be aware that Poundland are infact currently stocking Stila make up. For those who don't know, Stila is an American make up brand now available in the UK. It is classified in the higher end region, grouped with brands like Benefit and Clinique.

How did it end up in Poundland you may ask? Well, after discontinuing certain shades, presumabley Stila wanted rid of the excess stock hence Poundland to the rescue.

(Apologies for the quality of the pictures- I took them on my phone)

So, while in Blackpool last weekend, I picked up 'Oil Free Tinted Moisturiser SPF 30' in shade warm, dark 02 (not my ideal shade but hey, for £1 I'll make it work) RRP £25 and 'Angel Light Whitening Powder Foundation Refill' RRP £18. You're getting high quality make up for a miniscule fraction of the original price, and it also shows the mark up of high end brands.

Whilst in Poundland, I also got a ChitChat Juicy Lipstick which is a kind of a tinted lip balm after seeing a review on JetleyMess. Far from my expectations, this lip product was amazing, from its suberb colour payoff to its moisturising feel, I would definitely recommend picking up one of these bad boys.

All in all, my critical preconceptions of Poundland have well and truly been shattered and I am majorly impressed with their offerings.

Have you found any cheap treasures there lately?