Westfield Shopping Haul

Way back in May I went on a successful shopping trip to Westfield in Stratford City. It is one of my favourite places to shop because everything is under one roof and there is a huge variety of shops there. I think the atmosphere of the place is brilliant too and there are so many shops there that aren't anywhere near where I live such as MAC and Pull & Bear. Before I went I had a small list of things to buy so I thought that I would show them along with the other bits and pieces I picked up too.
The first shop I went in was Primark. Although there is a two storey store near where I live it doesn't even compare to the huge three storey store inside Westfield. Although you can find some amazing stuff in there I do find it a bit overwhelming and definitely need to be in the mood for shopping in there. On this day we decided to head in there first in order to get it out of the way. I wasn't looking for anything in particular in here but came out with two items. 
 At the end of August I am going to my first ever festival and so when I saw this bag I thought it would be perfect for putting all my essentials in without having to lug a huge bag around. Although I know 'bum-bags' aren't that fashionable or popular I think this will be really useful for the festival and was a bargain at only £6.
  The other thing I bought from Primark was this geo-print bomber jacket. It is not really the type of jacket I would usually buy and I wasn't sure about it when I saw it  on the hanger, but when I tried it on I actually really liked it. I really like the print and the fact that it is something different to the stuff I already have and was very reasonably priced at £12.  
 After a successful trip into Primark we opted to go into Pull & Bear. The closest one to where I live is actually in Stratford so I had to make the most of it. I ended up buying three items although in reality I probably could have ended up buying most of the shop. 
 Probably my favourite purchase from Pull & Bear was this denim hooded jacket which was £40. It is a really lightweight jacket that comes down to just above the knee and I love the cord used for decoration. It is perfect for the Spring and the warmer weather because it isn't heavy and I really like it because again it is something different to what I've seen before. Since buying this jacket it has been a huge part of my wardrobe and I have got a lot of wear out of it already.
 Next up from Pull & Bear I got this light acid wash denim shirt with rose gold detailing. I had been looking for a denim shirt for a long time yet hadn't found one which I liked and so I was so happy when I tried this on and fell in love with it. I like the fact that it is long sleeved because it means that I can roll up the sleeves if I want to or just wear it as it is. I think the colour is also interesting because it is such a pale denim that it is almost white. This shirt ended up costing me £20, which I think is reasonable because you would pay at least this if you were buying from somewhere like New Look.  
 My final purchase from Pull & Bear was this simple striped navy and white t-shirt. This is so soft and just the perfect length for me and thought that it would be a brilliant basic to keep in my wardrobe for seasons to come. It is short sleeved and round necked. I feel so comfortable in this t shirt and it can be paired with a whole variety of different items which is great. Costing only £10 again it was so well priced and I wish that they had other colours in this top because I probably would have bought at least another.
 It is no secret that I am obsessed with River Island bags. My collection is slowly growing and now when I  would like a new bag I automatically go to River Island first to see what they have to offer. I think although they are quite expensive the quality of them is brilliant and they last a long time too.
 Of all my bags from RI, a lot of them are big and are made up from block colours. When I went into the River Island in Westfield I went straight to the bags to see if any caught my eye. Admittedly I was disappointed and nothing in particular caught my eye. I then went over to the jewellery to see what was on offer. As I was just about to leave the store a bag caught my eye. It had just been put on the shelf and I knew this was the bag that I had seen a few weeks before in Lakeside. To my surprise it was also on sale, reduced from £45 to only £30. At this point it was sold to me and I bought it straight away. This bag is exactly my taste. it is big and has a lot of pockets inside to store things and I love the unique straw detailing and also the colours.  
  The only other thing I got in River Island was this nail polish by Barry M. I was looking for this shade in Superdrug in Lakeside but it was sold out so when I saw it in RI I bought it. It cost £4 and is the shade 'Sugar Apple' which is a gorgeous blue/green shade.
  I've never bought something from Urban Outfitters before and so when my sister and mum went in there I was having a good look round. Although none of the clothes or shoes really caught my eye I was intrigued by their candles. In particular the one called Berry Bellini really interested me because I thought it smelt amazing! I also really like the packaging of this product and the metal tin means that I can burn it as it is and not have to worry about mess. Although it was slightly more expensive at £6 than what I usually pay for a candle I was hooked by the scent at this point so was happy to pay it.
 The final two products that I bought in Westfield were products that I had been thinking of buying for a long time. I have recently really got into MAC products but because the nearest store to me is in Cambridge it makes it hard to decide on products to buy because I can't see the products before I buy them.
 However, I have been wanting to expand my lipstick MAC collection since buying the shade Crème Cup and so I decided to do some research before going to Westfield.
 Once I got in store I tried out the two colours I knew I was going to buy and loved them instantly so ended up buying both, with each lipstick costing £15. In the end I got the shade 'Ruby Woo' which is a bright red but has blue undertones in it so it suits all types of skin tones.
 The other shade I bought is a very dark matte red/plum shade called 'Diva.' I loved the consistency and finish of these lipsticks a lot and have loved wearing them since buying them in May.
 I had such a great day at Westfield and although my bank balance suffered a wee bit we ended the day with a delicious pretzel from Mr Pretzel. Yummy.

Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Moss 107 Review

Shade 107: 'Wine'

After purchasing a few of the Kate Moss Rimmel lipsticks recently, I knew that I would be going back for more shades because I have loved wearing them so much. Whilst I was in town a few weeks ago I took the opportunity to buy a shade which I have had my eye on for a while now. 

As I had been impressed with the other Kate Moss lipsticks in the Rimmel collection, I had high expectations for this product and it is safe to say I wasn't disappointed.

Shade 107 or 'Wine' is a beautiful dark red, which is perfect for the time of year. Admittedly I was expecting it to be a bit darker on the lips as it appears to be quite dark in the packaging but nevertheless I have still fallen in love with this product. Although I think it is supposed to be matte, it still has a slight gloss to it which I think is a good thing because it means that the product helps to keep the lips hydrated. Another positive about this lipstick is that it has considerable staying power, I found myself only usually reapplying after eating or drinking. 

The lipstick applies so easily and you are able to build up the colour with a few coats to make your lips really stand out. With this lipstick you don't need to go overboard with the rest of your makeup either, and this could easily be worn to both events and during the evening as well as during the day.

Perhaps one of the biggest positives of this product is the price. Costing only £5.49 it is fantastic value for money and with drugstores regularly having deals on, you can pick these lipsticks up for a bargain price. Even if you don't think this colour is for you, the range has so many different colours to choose from, there is something for everybody!

If you are looking for a new lipstick to signal the arrival of the Autumn/Winter season, I would definitely recommend this little beauty. You will not be disappointed.  

Beauty Haul

A few months ago I shared my recent purchases in a mini beauty haul. Since then however, I've found myself to have brought even more products from both Boots and Superdrug so I thought that I would share these. Some of the products I brought here were also in my other haul post, but these are repurchases and so I have included them to illustrate just how much I love them!

Firstly I went into Superdrug. On this trip I knew that I needed to pick up a few essentials and one of them was the orange and satsuma shower gel. I brought this product in my last haul and have used every last drop so a repurchase was necessary. It was so cheap at only 89p and it smells gorgeous. It is also really refreshing and lovely to use in the morning shower, even if this scent is not for you Superdrug have a huge range of scents to try out.

Another essential purchase for me was these cotton buds. I got these for 99p and they will probably last me a while considering there were 200 in this pack. They are a lifesaver for correcting any makeup mistakes such as eyeliner and mascara smudges and also for removing nail varnish from the skin if needed.

When I was at school Bic made pens. Apparently they now make razors aswell and these ones pictured above were my last unglamorous purchase. The colour of them was probably the deciding factor in buying them although they aren't actually a bad razor. They're called the Bic soleil lady and for a pack of 4 cost something like £2-£3

With the Autumn/Winter season officially here, I've been on the lookout for deep shades of lipstick to wear throughout the season. I've been a big fan of the Kate Moss lipsticks from Rimmel, although I was rather late to jump onto the bandwagon. However, in Boots recently I picked up this shade, 107 (wine) and have fallen in love with it. It cost around £5.49 which is a reasonable price for this type of product. 

I was also aware that Rimmel have recently brought out a new range of lip balms as well as some new lipsticks to their 'moisture renew' collection. Eager to try some of these products out I went into Boots and picked up one of the colour rush balms. A sucker for pink/nude shades I decided to try out the shade 'Not An Illusion' and I'm sure a review will be coming up soon. I think this also cost around the £5.49 mark. 

What I love about shopping in both Superdrug and Boots is that they always seem to have some amazing deals on. During my shopping trip, Boots were giving away a free Rimmel Scandal Eyes Lycra Flex mascara when you spent £10 or over on Rimmel products. As I had picked up the two lip products I got this free when usually it retails at around £7-£8 so this was a real bargain. 

So my lip product collection is expanding and I am falling more and more in love with Rimmel products, I'm already looking forward to my next shopping trip!

Lipstick Review: Kate Moss for Rimmel 01,03 & 08

Rimmel Kate Moss Lipsticks
L-R: 03, 08, 01

After recently deciding that I needed to invest in some new lipsticks, I decided to give a few from the Kate Moss for Rimmel collection a go. At the time I brought these Superdrug had an offer on so I got three of them, a nude shade, a pink shade and a red. Each lipstick usually retails at £5.49 each and can be found in places such as Superdrug and Savers in the UK as well as on numerous websites as well.  

Shade 03

Firstly, one thing that attracted me to these products were the packaging. I seem to be a sucker for black packaging as I was attracted to the Sleek products because of this and yet it has happened again here. I think that they just look really sophisticated and luxurious, and it must be amazing if your name is Kate as you get to have your name on the packaging too! 

  This first shade 03 is a pinky nude colour, and admittedly isn't my favourite out of the three. I think it is perfect if you have a dramatic eye look and so want to opt for a more natural low key lipstick but it is quite pale. I've also worn this on days where I want to keep my look quite natural and it is quite different from my other lipsticks.

Shade 08

The next shade, 08, is slightly brighter than 03 and has more pink tones in it. Personally I prefer this shade over 03, yet it still isn't overpowering or completely bland. I find these lipsticks really hydrating and glossy so never need to wear lipgloss alongside them. They also have considerable lasting power too, and I find I just need to reapply after eating and drinking etc. 

Shade 01

Finally, I decided to buy a red lipstick from the range in the form of shade 01 after my No. 7 one mysteriously vanished. This shade is very bright and it looks lovely on the lips although I haven't worn it very much yet because I haven't been to many events where I could recently. The lipstick itself in the packaging looks quite dark so I was surprised at first that it was so bright. However I do really like it and hope I'm able to wear it a lot over the winter and autumn. 

  All the lipsticks in this range have a distinct scent to them, which I'm still not sure if I like. Whenever I smell them they remind me of something but I can't put my finger on what, but they are very sweet and sickly smelling. The scent may not be for everybody, but the colours and lipsticks themselves are so lovely I don't think it should put off anybody who wants to try these out. 

I will definitely be going back into Superdrug very soon to expand my collection of these lipsticks because they are so reasonably priced and have a range of shades available. Rimmel and Kate Moss have also brought out a 'matt' range which I am excited to try because I have my eye on a few shades from there too! 

October 2013 Favourites

I say this every month but I cannot believe how quickly October has gone. There are now only 2 more months left of 2013 and that is one scary thought. Here are the things that I have been loving this month!

Beauty/Makeup:

Rimmel Colour Rush Balm in 'Not An Illusion'

When I found out that Rimmel were releasing some new lip products into their range I knew that I had to try these out. I picked up the shade 'Not An Illusion' and with a retail price of £5.49 they are so affordable. I've worn this product most days as the shade I brought is a light pink and is perfect for everyday wear. I plan on expanding my collection of these balms because they are so hydrating yet also give your lips a real colour boost.

Kate Moss Matte Lipstick in 'Wine'

Having been looking for new lipstick shades to try out when I came across this little beauty in the Rimmel range I knew I had to try it. I've seen it on other people and love that it fits perfectly with the Autumn/Winter season. Like with the other Kate Moss lipsticks in the Rimmel range the product applies so easily and evenly, and it is so hydrating. Also retailing at £5.49 it means that I continue to buy them because they are such a bargain. 

Fashion:

New Look Printed Top

Prior to this month, I had not brought new clothes in such a long time. So this month, with some money to spend and some time to waste in New Look I decided that I was going to treat myself. (I was also going out the night I went shopping so needed an outfit to wear.) The first thing I brought and have loved this month is this spaghetti styled strap top with this aztec pattern on it. I love the bright colours from the red to the blue to the purple and although it may not be the most practical in terms of keeping warm I know I can layer this with cardigans and also wear it next season. It cost £12.99 from New Look.  

Leather Sleeveless Jacket

Another of my cheeky purchases from New Look was this leather jacket. When I tried this on alongside the top I fell in love with it and knew that I would have to buy it. However it is sleeveless which may not be great for the Winter, but again I'm sure I can layer this up with jumpers or cardigans to make it a bit more suitable. I also only paid £11 for it, as it was in the sale and originally cost £24.99 and I couldn't leave it. 

Denim Skater Skirt

My final purchase and another favourite of mine this month has been this denim skater skirt, also from New Look. It is so comfortable and versatile and I was surprised that I didn't already have one in my wardrobe. I love the colour of the denim and the fact that it can be worn with tights or alone in the summer and I can see this being a staple in my wardrobe for a long time. Also it was another bargain at £14.99, and so it had to come home with me. 

Scarves 

Finally in terms of fashion items, I have really been loving wearing scarves as the weather gets cooler. In particular I have loved this printed scarf which I got at the beginning of the winter last season because I love the bird print and also the colours. 

Food/Drink:

Wrigley's Extra Mints

A bit of a random food favourite this month has been the peppermint mints from Wrigley's. They are so refreshing and much more practical than chewing gum and leave my mouth feeling really clean and fresh. A lifesaver if you've had a particular smelly sandwich at lunch time or anything with garlic or onion in it. You get 16 in a pack for around 40p, so you get more for your money than with gum. 

Pitta with hummus & pepper

Another food favourite this month is this combination of hummus, pitta bread and red pepper. I've found myself reaching for this during lunch breaks and have occasionally enjoyed this as my evening meal if I am not feeling that hungry. I buy a pre-made pot of hummus, costing 99p from Morrisons and a pack of pittas for 70p. I then toast the pittas in the toaster and cut up the pepper, and then dip them both into the hummus whilst eating. I've also found breaded chicken strips to be delicious with this and I've also eaten these foods with guacamole as well on occasions.

Games:

4 Pics 1 Song
There haven't been that many games that I've really enjoyed this month and I haven't really had the time to find some, but I have been enjoying the 4 Pics 1 Song game. Basically you are given 4 pictures which give you clues to a word which will be the name of a song. They get harder as you progress through the levels and the developers are always introducing new levels so I am no where near completing it yet. Admittedly I have googled the answers once or twice because some of them are really hard, but I have enjoyed playing overall. 

Dumb Ways To Die
I recently discovered this game on the Apple App store whilst browsing through the top categories. This game is strangely addicting, and the purpose of it is to stop the characters in the game from dying. You earn points and then the points unlocks new characters on the 'home' screen of the game. So for example, one of the ways you have to stop the character from dying is by swatting the wasps off the screen with your finger so that the character isn't stung to death. It is a strange game, but one that I've found to be a good time waster.

Music

Bastille- Of The Night
I am a massive fan of Bastille and I absolutely love their cover of 'Of The Night.' I'm not a massive fan of the original song, but there is something about the vocals of Bastille that I love and I have had this song on repeat although I was only introduced to it towards the end of the month. 

Conor Maynard- R U Crazy
This is another song which I have had on repeat throughout the month. I love the bridge in this song, especially the first one and I've turned it up every time I have heard it on the radio. It took me a couple of attempts to get the words right at the bridge but I think I've finally nailed it. Woo. 

Scouting For Girls- The Light Between Us
I've always been a fan of albums and would much prefer to have a physical CD as opposed to a download. I have a fairly large album collection and so I love it when I rediscover an album that I haven't listened to in a while. This month I have rediscovered Scouting For Girls' album The Light Between Us and have honestly fallen in love with it all over again. My favourite songs from the album are 'Snakes & Ladders', 'Rocky Balboa' and 'Somebody New.' 

Films/TV:

The Guardian
I am a huge Ashton Kutcher fan and so I'm always keen to watch the films that he has starred in. I realised that I had never seen The Guardian and borrowed it off a friend to watch. Admittedly it did take me a long while to finally get round to watching it, but I seriously loved it when I did. I never usually cry at films and this film nearly, but not quite got me. That is quite some achievement. Basically the film centres around a coast guard and the training of Ashton Kutcher to become a coast guard. Honestly, the film is much better than I just described it and I can't believe that it's taken me this long to watch it.

The Magaluf Weekender
One TV program that I have watched throughout October is The Magaluf Weekender. Basically this is a 'reality series' which follows a bunch of reps at a hotel in Magaluf. Every weekend a two new groups of people check into the hotel and the cameras follow what they get up to. i.e. Getting very drunk and trying to 'pull.' It is entertaining to watch and there is always drama between the reps too and it is really is just easy viewing. I think the series has now ended, but it will be returning for it's third season next year. 

8 Out of 10 Cats
I love this program. 8 out of 10 cats is basically a comedy panel show all about statistics and opinion polls and the news and is hosted by comedian Jimmy Carr. It has nothing to do with cats apart from if they've been in the news, but it is so funny and a good way to start the weekend. They've also recently made their own version of Countdown which was hilarious, but now I think they are back to the standard format of the show. 

These are just some of the things that I have been loving this month. I'm really looking forward to seeing what will be included in my November favourites, especially because I know I will be shopping more with Christmas just around the corner!

If I Had £100 To Spend: Makeup

I saw this post back in September and it got me thinking about the makeup products that I would purchase if I was given £100 and so I decided to write my own version of the post. You can read Rosie's original post here: http://itsalljustrosie.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/if-i-had-100.html

Rockateur by Benefit £23.50
The first product that I would buy with £100 would be the Rockateur cheek powder from Benefit. I've heard amazing things about this particular product and seen some pictures of other bloggers wearing the product and it looks amazing. I wouldn't usually spend this much money on a blusher so this would be a product that I would treat myself to.

Mac Lipstick in Ruby Woo £15.00
I have had my eye on this lipstick for a few months now and so if I had £100 to spend on makeup this would definitely be a purchase for me. Described as a matt blue-red shade it is supposed to suit almost every skin-tone and would set me back £15. 

Image from www.maccosmetics.co.uk

Mac Lipstick in Crème Cup £15.00
Another lipstick from Mac that I would buy as part of my £100 spending would be this gorgeous looking shade called Crème Cup. I am a massive fan of pinky shaded lipsticks and feel this would be a great addition to my collection. I think I also featured this on my September wishlist, but I still haven't found the opportunity to buy it yet.  

Image taken from www.maccosmetics.co.uk

Mac Eyeshadow in Nylon £12.50

Having never tried an eyeshadow from Mac before and being keen to try out new shadows and expand my collection, another purchase would be the Mac eyeshadow in Nylon. From the description online it is a gold shimmery shade and I think this would compliment my hazel eyes. 

Image taken from www.maccosmetics.co.uk

Mac Eyeshadow in Blanc Type £12.50
As I am running out of the eye shadow I am currently using, I on the lookout for a new shadow to replace it. I came across this shade when browsing on the Mac website and thought it was a really lovely beige shade so I've added it to this post. 

Image taken from www.maccosmetics.co.uk 

Mac Eyeshadow in Charcoal Brown £12.50
This is turning into a 'If I had to spend £100 in Mac' post at this rate and so to end my spending in Mac I would finish off by purchasing a final eyeshadow in Charcoal Brown. I think this colour would be perfect for the crease and also to fill in my brows, so that's two purposes for one product. Brilliant. 

Sleek Blush in Rose Gold £4.49
I got slightly carried away when I was mentally purchasing products from the Mac website, so it leaves me with about £10 left to spend. I think for the last £10 I would go to Sleek and purchase two of their blushes because I have loved 'Flamingo' so much and would love to expand my collection even further.
  Whilst browsing on the website I came across this gorgeous shade. I've seen other beauty bloggers and Youtubers wearing this shade and it looks amazing. It would also be different from the blushes I already own and although it looks as though to have a fair bit of shimmer in it, I would still love to try it out.

Image from: www.sleekmakeup.com

 

Sleek Blush in Life's A Peach £4.49
For my final purchase I would buy another Sleek blush, this time in the shade 'Life's a Peach.' Although it looks extremely bright and orange in the picture online I would hope that like Flamingo it doesn't look as scary when it is on the cheeks as you don't need much product. That would bring my total to £99.98, leaving me with just 2p leftover. I'm actually surprised by the amount of products that I would be able to buy as I would get three blushes, 2 lipsticks and three eyeshadows for this price, with most of them being higher end products. 

Image from: www.sleekmakeup.com

Total: £99.98
It was a lot of fun to write this post and mentallu spend £100 on makeup and to plan what you would buy. However it has now made me want to buy all of these products, which may not turn out to be so great and will have a negative effect on my bank balance!

Mini Beauty Haul

I'm not really sure how this haul happened. Friday evening I received an email from The Body Shop, telling me that they were offering free delivery on all orders over £5 AND they had 40% of everything! I was instantly drawn, as I could pick up one of their new lipsticks for only £6!

  Everything was set, the lippy was in my basket and I had my debit card out ready to pay when suddenly and I don't remember how or why I decided to go onto Superdrug's website. Big mistake. I found out that they were doing a buy one get one half price deal on all Rimmel makeup and this was enough to put off the Body Shop purchase and head into town myself the next day.

  I took Superdrug up on their offer and purchased a few new lipsticks and some new shower gel, not the most exciting or extensive haul, but I've been trying to save money.

Superdrug Own Brand Showers Gels
L-R: Orange & Satsuma
Strawberry & Raspberry

The first things that I picked up were these two shower gels, which are part of Superdrug's own brand. These shower gels are amazing because they lather really well and smell gorgeous. If you've ever used the Original Source shower gels, they are extremely similar to these and like Original Source they have a variety of different scents to try out. They are the perfect shower gel because they are super refreshing, especially the Orange and Satsuma one I picked up. These are also very affordable, costing only £1 each and currently Superdrug are doing a buy one half price on all of their own branded products.

I spent a fair while eyeing up the Rimmel section of Superdrug, trying to decide what to purchase. As I had nearly brought some lipstick the night before and didn't really need any other beauty products at the time, I decided to get two lipsticks as part of their buy one get one half price offer.
  For a long time I've heard rave reviews about the collection of lipstick Kate Moss released with Rimmel and so decided it was finally time to jump onto the bandwagon. These are usually £5.29 and so managed to get two for around £8. 

Kate Moss for Rimmel lipstick in shade 01

Unfortunately when I went into the shop everybody has seemingly had the same idea as me so there wasn't many shades to choose from but I've wanted a new red lipstick for a long time so picked up shade 01. I also really liked the look of shade 08 but there wasn't any in Superdrug so I brought 03 instead.

  I then took a trip to Savers and purchased 08, just because I loved the shade and decided it needed to be in my life. Admittedly I did have to pay full price, but in my mind it was worth it. 





Kate Moss for Rimmel Lipstick in shade 03

Kate Moss for Rimmel lipstick in shade 08

Swatches L-R:
01, 03, 08

Although I haven't had a chance to test out these lipsticks properly yet, from the swatches I did above, I can already see that I picked up some gorgeous shades. They look super pigmented and I think that I've brought some shades that can be worn as part of an everyday makeup look. I will probably write a full review on these in the future, so keep your eyes peeled.

What's In My Makeup Bag?

 

I've noticed recently that my makeup bag is becoming quite full. So full in fact that I can't actually shut it now, which isn't great when I take it out with me. Still, I thought that it would be quite interesting to go through what I currently have in my makeup bag, especially because I'm always interested to see what is in other peoples. 

  The makeup bag itself is from Marks and Spencer. However, because it was a gift to me I don't know how much it was and because it was brought for me a few years ago I don't think you can buy it anymore. 

Max Factor Colour Adapt Foundationhttps://www.maxfactor.co.uk/make-up-products/face/foundation/max-factor-colour-adapt-foundation

I've decided to organise the products for this post in a similar order in which I would apply them. Firstly is the foundation which I am currently using from Max Factor. This retails at £9.99 and I think it is reasonably priced although it is a bit more expensive than other drugstore brands. I use this product in shade 70 which is natural and the best thing about this foundation is that you do not need a lot of product for coverage, I usually only use half or one pump depending on the condition of my skin.

Helen E Cream & Concealer Duohttp://www.helen-e.com/cosmetics/face/cream-and-concealer-duo.htm

The next product is from a brand called Helen E. I've never seen this brand in Superdrug or Boots and I had this product for a few years before I actually started to use it. I got this particular duo from a Helen E stand at The Clothes Show Live and so paid considerably less than the retail price. The left side of the duo is a cream foundation called a 'skin smoother' but I haven't really got into using this because I prefer to use a liquid foundation. However, I regularly use the right side of the duo which is a yellow concealer. I use this under the eyes to cover up dark shadows and I think it really makes a difference. This product retails at £16.50 which is quite expensive for what the product is and considering that I don't use half of it I would recommend buying their concealer stick instead.

Max Factor Creme Puff Powder Compacthttps://www.maxfactor.co.uk/make-up-products/face/powder/max-factor-creme-puff-powder-compact

For powder, I'm currently using the Max Factor Creme Puff Powder compact in the shade translucent. As the foundation I'm using gives a good coverage, I use a translucent powder just to set the foundation and the concealer, instead of using it to add colour to my face. However, you can buy this powder in different shades and it retails at £5.99. I find that the powder gives a smooth finish to the face and I use the applicator provided to apply the product. 

Jelly Pong Pong Chocolaterie Palette
Not Available Online 

For blusher and bronzer I'm finding a palette by a company called Jelly Pong Pong really lovely to use. I picked this palette up from The Clothes Show Live around the same time as the Helen E product and so I'm not sure whether or not you can still buy this. It consists of 4 eyeshadows, 2 lipglosses and then this blush/bronzer duo which is the only part of the product I really use. However, once I have used this product up I will be experimenting with new products, especially if I cannot repurchase the bronzer or blusher. Each shade contains a small amount of shimmer but it also looks really natural on the skin and gives you a healthy glow.

Eyeshadow Quad Palette 

This eyeshadow quad has been part of my collection for a long time. I'm not sure where I got it from or how much it was, but I love the neutral colours which make them very wearable for everyday use. However, I'm not the biggest fan of eye shadow so I tend to use the bottom right colour to subtly fill my eyebrows. Using a small eye shadow brush I apply this product and you can see that it is well loved.

Rimmel Glam'Eyes Professional Liquid Linerhttp://uk.rimmellondon.com/products/eyes/glameyes-professional-liquid-liner
Max Factor Kohl Pencilhttps://www.maxfactor.co.uk/make-up-products/eyes/eyeliner/max-factor-kohl-eye-liner-pencil

For a typical everyday look, I usually apply both liquid and pencil liners to my eyes. Along the lower lash line and waterline I apply a black kohl pencil and I am currently using this one from Max Factor in the colour black. It applies really well to the eye as it is quite a soft consistency and I have also used it on the upper lashline because it blends nicely. These kohl pencils retail at £4.99 and are much longer than pictured, I think this one was a sample size.

  In addition to the kohl pencil, I also use the Glam'Eyes liquid liner by Rimmel. This retails for £5.29 and I have repurchased this product so many times because it is so easy to use and lasts all day. 

Mascaras L-R:
Rimmel Scandal Eyeshttp://uk.rimmellondon.com/products/eyes/scandaleyes-mascara
Maybelline Le Colossal Volum' Express Smoky Eyeshttp://www.maybelline.co.uk/products/144/eyes/mascara/volum-express-the-colossal-smoky-eyes/black/dark-001?shadeId=945
Maybelline Falsies Black Dramahttp://www.maybelline.co.uk/products/106/eyes/mascara/volum-express-the-falsies-black-drama-mascara/black-drama/001?shadeId=571

I always seem to have a lot of mascaras in my makeup bag because I find that I like to change what I wear on my eyes. The oldest mascara in my makeup bag is the Rimmel Scandal Eyes mascara and so soon it will be time to get rid of it. This mascara retails at £6.99 and I think it's a right bargain as it makes a big difference to your eyes. 
  The next mascara which I use if the Maybelline Le Colossal, which I find is really good for applying to the bottom lashes because the brush is quite small and thin. I find like the packaging advertises it adds volume to the lashes, but to enhance my eyes further I use this alongside the scandal eyes mascara. This costs £7.99.
  My most recent purchase is the Maybelline Falsies mascara and this will eventually become the replacement for the scandal eyes mascara. I've read a lot of positive reviews on this mascara and thought it was about time that I tried it out. I'm not disappointed by the product as it makes my eyelashes look really long and voluminous, and I find that I don't need to use an additional mascara alongside it because it can be applied to the bottom lashes easily as well. This product costs £7.99.

Rimmel 1000 Kisses Lip Tint
http://uk.rimmellondon.com/products/lips/1000-kisses-lip-tint

 As a change to lipstick or lipgloss, I brought one of these lip tints at the Clothes Show Live in 2012. It took me about six months to start using it but I find that they are a great alternative to lipstick. They are really easy to apply and really pigmented but they don't last for as long as I thought they would. I usually reapply this product after a few hours and I love that they have a balm with them to hydrate the lips. The two shades I've brought are 'Nothing but Nude' (above, top) and 'Timeless Tango' which is a brighter colour. (above, bottom) These retail at £5.99 each. 

Vaseline
http://www.superdrug.com/vaseline/vaseline-lip-therapy/invt/543876&bklist=

I find Vaseline is a necessity to have in my makeup bag for when I have dry lips, especially during the winter. I always have a small tin in my makeup bag and it's a total bargain for only £1.99. I also apply this on top of my Rimmel lip tints if I don't feel like applying the balm included with the tint.  

The Body Shop Colourglide Lip Colour
http://www.thebodyshop.co.uk/make-up/lips/colourglide-lip-colour.aspx

During the summer months, I also have this pink lipstick in my makeup bag. This is a really summery colour and is really hydrating and pigmented. The lipstick itself is shade 57 called 'Pink Flirt' from The Body Shop and I love the packaging of the product. It costs £10 which is quite expensive but I brought it as a treat to myself. 

Makeup Brushes L-R:
Eyeshadow Brush by Jelly Pong Pong
Blush Brush by Colour Works
Foundation Brush by Superdrug

These are the brushes I typically use to apply my makeup. I use the eyeshadow brush to apply the shadow to my eyebrows as I find this brush is very precise because it is so small. Fairly self-explanatory, but I use the blush brush to apply my blush and bronzer usually and the foundation brush to apply my foundation.

Contents of my makeup bag