Are you a high end queen or do you love getting a bargain?
I’m fairly evenly split down the middle. There are some thrills in life, like a Chanel perfume or swatching a new Charlotte Tilbury lipstick, that just can’t be beaten.
But I also dearly love finding those little gems that cost pennies and really deliver.
Drugstore offerings have really upped their game over the past few years, and often the formulations are such close rivals for high-end products now that you’d be hard pushed to tell the difference in a blind test.
It’s a different kind of thrill, but I definitely feel more smug when I find a winner.
One thing I’ve always thought you have to invest in though, is skincare. I’ve always assumed that you get what you pay for in terms of active ingredients, and although I still think there’s some truth in that, I have also read an interview with a leading dermatologist who said that often the ‘mass market’ brands can achieve better innovations as they have big budgets and economies of scale.
Despite that, I wouldn’t have thought (and I bet neither would you) that you could get a brilliant little skin serum, packed full of great ingredients, for the princely sum of £1?
1. Evissa dress
www.wantherwardrobe.com
This dress is really floating my boat at the moment. I love the way it has cut outs but they’re not actually too revealing. It has quite a sports luxe, Alexander Wang vibe – simple but with enough detail to keep it interesting.
I spotted this featured as part of an article where they had the reporter copy Kim Kardashian’s outfits for a week, to see if they were practical in every day life. And while some (latex bustier anyone?) didn’t work, she really rated this dress for comfort and elegance.
Kim can wear some really bizarre things, but there are also elements of her style I love, like the leather pencil skirts and crop tops. I’d be tempted to style this down with leggings and pointed flats and wear it as more of a tunic.
I spotted this featured as part of an article where they had the reporter copy Kim Kardashian’s outfits for a week, to see if they were practical in every day life. And while some (latex bustier anyone?) didn’t work, she really rated this dress for comfort and elegance.
Kim can wear some really bizarre things, but there are also elements of her style I love, like the leather pencil skirts and crop tops. I’d be tempted to style this down with leggings and pointed flats and wear it as more of a tunic.
2. Real Techniques Rose Gold Contour Brush
www.boots.com
Every single blogger in the world wants this, because lets face it, its beautiful. It did feel a little weird to me when a brand that had always provided incredible quality for a reasonable price started introducing a premium line, but honestly?
I really prefer RT brushes to Mac ones, so even if this range is more in that price bracket I think its worth it. I might have to give in on payday. My cheekbones demand this!
I really prefer RT brushes to Mac ones, so even if this range is more in that price bracket I think its worth it. I might have to give in on payday. My cheekbones demand this!
3. Richard Ward Keratin Rehab Ultra-Moisturising Treatment
www.waitrose.com
My hair has put up with a lot over the years and the ends are not in great condition due to being ombre-d in the past and then dyed over, and the fact that I use heat stylers every day. So a decent deep conditioning mask is a must for me.
I like the idea of this line because it contains keratin, which is a wonder ingredient for rebuilding damaged tresses. Of course Richard Ward is Kate Middleton’s hairdresser, so he has the most pampered tresses in the land in his hands – he must know what’s good!
I like the idea of this line because it contains keratin, which is a wonder ingredient for rebuilding damaged tresses. Of course Richard Ward is Kate Middleton’s hairdresser, so he has the most pampered tresses in the land in his hands – he must know what’s good!
4. Nip+ Fab Dragon’s Blood Fix Plumping Serum
www.nipandfab.com
I’m always up for trying some new skincare, and this serum caught my eye last time I was in Boots. I really love Nip + Fab products and I couldn’t do without their exfoliating pads.
All the products are developed by Maria Hatzistefanis, who I admire hugely. She founded luxury brand Rodial, and you’ll often find that Nip +Fab products come out with similar formulations to their more pricey cousins.
This serum contains super-moisturiser hyaluronic acid, velvey flower extract, dragon’s blood, a botanical extract that forms a protective film on skin to protect against environmental damage and a complex to absorb excess oil.
All the products are developed by Maria Hatzistefanis, who I admire hugely. She founded luxury brand Rodial, and you’ll often find that Nip +Fab products come out with similar formulations to their more pricey cousins.
This serum contains super-moisturiser hyaluronic acid, velvey flower extract, dragon’s blood, a botanical extract that forms a protective film on skin to protect against environmental damage and a complex to absorb excess oil.
5. Loco Dark Gold Pointed Flats
www.office.com
Really loving flat or chunky heeled shoes at the moment – I am so over discomfort when I’m trying to walk! So I’ve been looking for interesting flats that will do for evening as well as day.
I love the statement colour and mirror finish of these, they’d light up any outfit but would look especially good with dark skinny jeans or a sequinned mini. And best of all? No crippling foot pain!
I love the statement colour and mirror finish of these, they’d light up any outfit but would look especially good with dark skinny jeans or a sequinned mini. And best of all? No crippling foot pain!
6. White oversized shirt dress
Acne
Current obsession: large oversized white shirt dresses, and this is the best of the bunch. The price is a little high for me, so I’m definitely on the hunt for a decent high street alternative -hoping Toppers or H&M will deliver something similar soon! T
his would be great for now with leggings and ankle boots or amazing for summer on its own with a chunky belt. Divine.
his would be great for now with leggings and ankle boots or amazing for summer on its own with a chunky belt. Divine.
7. Gold ampersand sign
Near And Dear via Etsy
This is something I really want for my house! I’m enjoying buying little bits and pieces now that we’re decorating, and I love the idea of hanging this over the bed.
Its really quirky and the metallic finish would pop against my soft grey walls.
Its really quirky and the metallic finish would pop against my soft grey walls.
It’s been a little bit of an odd week, I’ve been feeling more unsettled and weirdly insecure about everything, although I couldn’t tell you why.
My little bit of a bump I thought I could start to see emerge seems to disappear sometimes and I even find myself thinking ‘Am I really pregnant?’, which is daft. I guess it just seems so abstract still, I haven’t got my head around the fact its happening because of not having been trying for any length of time.
I’m still working on trying to be less focused on what I ‘should’ be feeling like.
My scan has become a big mental obstacle where I keep torturing myself that I won’t feel the right way when I see my baby for the first time, won’t feel a rush of love or an instant connection or any of the things I believe I’m supposed to.
When big things happen in my life, I have a tendency to feel detached, like they’re too unreal to be happening, and I don’t connect with them immediately. I felt that way all the way through my wedding day, so what if this is the same?
That’s so hyped, so lauded as this miracle wonder product, that it can’t help but fail.
I’m a complete sucker for advertising B.S (despite the fact I work in marketing and PR and should definitely know better). Ever since Tony the Tiger told me Frosties were grrrrreat I’ve had a compulsion to believe the claims made up by people trying to shift product.
Somehow being an avid reader of blogs doesn’t help, because if everyone is raving about something and I just don’t get it, I try to convince myself I must be wrong.
And so I have been doing with ‘miracle mascara’ Seventeen Falsifeye HD.
Love is in the air this week, as Glossybox unleash their February offering.
If Cupid hasn’t been good to you, or you have a husband like mine who believes (and I quote ) “Relationships should be about a foundation of continual mutual respect and kindness rather than empty gestures on one day of the year greetings card manufacturers choose”, this is definitely a treat that will make you feel very loved.
From the moment I unwrapped the parcel and saw that beautiful box with its stunning typography and pink ribbon, I knew we were meant to be.
Who wouldn’t love such a beautiful box of treats? And what was inside the box didn’t disappoint either…
This month’s box contained three full sized products and two deluxe samples, with a total value of around £49.47, which is a terrific return on your £12 outlay.
All the products were instant hits with me, bar one, which might surprise me yet…
Hello dolls
Guess who’s been haulin’?
Wasn't January such a long, horrid month? It’s so long since payday and so long since all the fun of Christmas, so as soon as payday rolled around I decided to treat myself to some beauty bits I’d had my eye on for a while.
There were a couple of premium items from NARS and then I placed some orders with my favourite bargain beauty sites as well.
I’m planning to review most of these items in more detail, so I’ll keep it brief here. But I had to show you for our mutual beauty satisfaction...
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