ELF Haul!!

I ordered all this stuff ages ago but only got it now… sadly not because of ELF’s shipping, but because I sent it to the wrong address -.-

Anyway, I am super excited about everything I got, and can’t wait to really test it out!

 

Studio HD Blush in Headliner- $3

This blush seems to be a really pretty dolly pink color, I have only swatched it on my hand as of yet. I believe MUFE has a similar product, so I am really interested to see how this one works out.

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/studio/face/blush/hd_blush

 

Studio Contouring Blush & Bronzer Cream in St. Lucia- $3

I was never super excited by the powder version of this duo. But when they came out with a cream version, I was sold. The blush is a very pretty peachy color with almost a hint of terra-cotta in it. The bronzer is a bit orange, but when applied correctly is pretty wearable… if you are not super pale like winter-me. However, it does look really good on more tanned skin, I tried it out on my sister who lives in Houston, and it looks really nice.

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/studio/face/blush/contouring_blush_and_bronzing_cream

 

Studio Blush in Blushing Rose- $3

I have used this blush several times since opening it, and really love it so far! It is beautiful rose color with a subtle gold shimmer running through it. It gives a gorgeous flush to the skin, and looks really nice on my Caspar-like skin. I think this would also look really nice on darker skin as well, but you might have to use a denser brush (I use a stippling brush)

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/studio/face/blush/studio_blush

 

Mineral Eyeshadow Primer in Sheer- $3

I have really oily eyelids so I don’t really have high hopes for this primer (read about my experience with the famous Urban Decay primer here). However, I figured since it was $3 I could try it out before trying the more expensive primers. If it does work, then I have saved myself a fair amount of money. If it doesn’t, it was $3.

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/minerals/eyes/concealers_and_primers/eyeshadow_primer

 

Custom Eyes Eyeshadow Refill in Navy- $1

This looked like a really interesting color, so I figured I would pick it up. I think this would look really good as a smokey eyeliner with a defined upper lash line. I had ordered the color Aubergine too, but they were out of that, apparently. I can’t comment on the quality of the shadow yet as I haven’t done anything more than a quick swatch on my hand.

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/elf/elements/custom_eyes

 

Essentials Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Bark- $1

This is another product that I have worn some since receiving the order, and so far I really like it! It is a pink/brown nude, a very natural color. On my lips it is a very my-lips-but-better color. It seems to be reasonably pigmented. It is a strange texture, more like a gloss than a lipstick, but a very very thick sticky gloss at that. It smells strongly of mint and vanilla and has that tingling sensation you get with plumping glosses, even though this isn’t advertised as being plumping. These features are fine for me, but may put some people off.

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/makeup/lips/lip_stick/luscious_liquid_lipstick

 

**DISCLAIMER: all individual product pictures found on eyeslipsface.com**

Christmas Gift Guide: Smaller Gifts

The holiday season is one of my very favorite times, and one of the reasons is I love gifts. Ok, I won’t pretend I don’t love getting gifts (I mean, who doesn’t?) but I really, REALLY love giving gifts. But sometimes, that perfect gift may be a bit hard to find, and that could cause some major stress. Hopefully this post will give you some ideas for that fabulous (beauty related) present for that special gal, be it your friend, girlfriend, or mom! These smaller gifts could be combined to make one gift, or used to supplement mid-sized gifts.

The Body Shop Mini Body Butters

Found on TheBodyShop-USA.com

These things are really the best! They cost $6  for 1.7 fl oz (50 ml), so they are a pretty good deal. I couldn’t find them on the German or British site, but I’m pretty sure they have them in store. They should be around the €5 mark, and they are often on 3 for 2 at my store! You can normally find a pretty good selection of scents, I know I see Pink Grapefruit pretty regularly at mine, as well as Shea and Olive. I have also seen Strawberry, I believe, as well as Coconut. And Moringa, as shown in the picture. As for picking scents, the Shea and Olive ones are pretty neutral but still smell quite nice, so I think you could hardly go wrong. Personally, I love the Pink Grapefruit one (click here to read my review), as well as the Moringa scent. Coconut is quite nice too (surprisingly, as normally I don’t like coconut-scented things), but Strawberry is just way too sickly for me. You can always smell the full-sized testers if you don’t know for sure.

http://www.thebodyshop-usa.com/gifts/stocking-stuffers/mini-body-butter-moringa.aspx

Crabtree & Evelyn Soaps

Found on Crabtree-Evelyn.co.uk

These soaps are so beautiful, really any of the scents would be fabulous. My personal favorites are the Summer Hill and Crabapple & Mulberry scents. They range in price from $6-$10.

http://www.crabtree-evelyn.com/eng/products/bath-body/bar-soap/french-milled-soaps/crabapple_mulberry_triple_milled_soap?79496

LUSH Bath Products

Found on Lushusa.com

There would be no Christmas related post, or gift post at all for that matter, without a LUSH bath product or 15 gazillion. Phoenix Rising (pictured above) is one favorite: it is available all year round, but I think is especially good for this time of year. It is very spicy and cinnamon-y, and is purple and covered with gold glitter. Basically, me in bath bomb form. The Sex Bomb bath bomb is a classic, and probably will be loved by everyone. The Rose Jam bubble bar smells divine, and the Melting Snowman bath melt is as scrumptious-smelling as it is adorable. These products all range from $3-10.

Hildegard Braukmann Face Masks

Found on Hildegard-Braukmann.de

These are a really good way to go- they are really nice quality skincare, provide a little treat, and are really, really inexpensive to boot! These come in all different formulations to suit most skin types.

 

Be Beautiful, Not Broke

When you are addicted to beauty products, it is all too easy to spend far more than you can afford to. Here are three tips for shopping smart.

 

1) Look critically at your purchasing patterns

What I find to be really helpful is to look carefully at what you buy regularly and what you spend a lot of money on. For this really concentrate on things like hair care (especially shampoo and conditioner!), skin care, and maybe mascara. These are all things that you might purchase on a more regular basis. After you have compiled a list, think about how much you pay for the product. Then it is time to do some research. Can you get the same results with a cheaper product? The answer may be no, but it also could be yes. If so, ask yourself what it is exactly that makes you continue purchasing the product that you are currently using. Is it for the product itself, or is it for the experience that you get while using it? Then see if the better experience justifies the cost for you. That gorgeous packaging may be worth the extra $20 for you because it is just such a pleasure to use. That is completely fine, I am a sucker for packaging as well. I love my Dior and YSL as much as the next girl. But no matter what, make sure you have consciously evaluated your choice and have found the price justified. Otherwise you may be wasting your money on some expensive product in boring-ass packaging that works well, but not any different to something that you could get for a fraction of the price at your drugstore.

2)Do your homework

Ever bought something on a whim, tried it, and hated it? If that thing was $3 it really isn’t that much of a tragedy. But what if it was $20? $100? $500? To make sure that you avoid this mistake, I am a firm believer in stalking whatever product you are planning on buying before handing over your hard-earned money for it. I do this regardless of whether it is $3 or $30. Make sure you know exactly what you are buying, and what kind of chances it has for working with your particular skin type/hair type/coloring etc. I would recommend reading in-depth reviews on beauty blogs as well as going on sites like MakeupAlley. Reading reviews on blogs are good because you really find out the specifics about the product, such as if there are any particularly good or bad things about the packaging. If you find a blogger with similar characteristics (e.g. skin type) as you, all the better. Sites like the aforementioned MakeupAlley are good for just seeing a huge variety of experiences in one easy location. This will really help you see how the product performed on all different types of people, and it is much easier to find people who have similar characteristics.

Another thing to think about is dupes. I talked about this a bit before, but if you want something, do a quick search to see if there is something as good or better for cheaper. For color cosmetics this is key, I know there are at least a few MAC eyeshadows that have dupes in Wet n Wild, and the quality of these cheap little eyeshadows are often as good (if not better!) than their MAC counterparts.

3) Don’t be afraid to ask for samples!!

You can read all the reviews you want, but nothing beats trying out a product for yourself. This applies more to foundation than anything else, so don’t be shy to take a sample home to test. This is the best way to get a great foundation match, as you can test it out more thoroughly in different lightings and situations at your own leisure. Also, the salespeople are often very good at what they do. But sometimes they haven’t the foggiest notion about what they are selling. They may match you up to the wrong product and/or color, and when you are spending $20+ on an item this becomes a bit of a problem. You can use their guidance (obviously, that is what they are there for), but do not trust them explicitly. You are fully within your rights to ask for a sample of a foundation in a department store, as those foundations are typically not cheap.

Now, for drugstore makeup. When people hear “drugstore makeup” often they think it will be cheap. What they have not considered is that some of that drugstore foundation? $10 a pop. Factor in that with the fluorescent  lighting you cannot easily color-match yourself, you may end up buying 2 or 3 foundations. That’s $30 gone and you still may not have a foundation that you like. Unfortunately, drugstores don’t always allow you to sample their products. But just in case, I would recommend taking along some empty sample containers and filling them up with a couple of good sized pumps. I don’t actually know how happy this makes the shopkeepers, so you may want to do this a bit more sneakily. In any case, they put the tube out there, didn’t they?

 

All in all, really think about what you are buying and see if there are any ways you can make your beauty addiction a little more budget friendly. I hope this helped!

Houston Haul!

So I was visiting my mom and sister in Houston, so of course I had to pick up a thing or two… 😉

Beauty

Dior Addict 2  (Eau Fraiche) Perfume

I had the baby version of this already so I decided to pick up a larger bottle. It is a gorgeous scent, very subtle and feminine. According to Sephora, the notes are bergamot, grapefruit, orange, freesia, lily of the valley, lotus flower, pineapple, watermelon, grenadine, sandalwood, and white musk.

http://www.sephora.com/dior-addict-eau-fraiche-P375238?skuId=857888

Nars Tinted Moisturizer in Finland

Picture from Sephora.com

After trying many many samples of lightweight(ish) foundations, BB creams, and tinted moisturizers, I decided to get this one. It is a perfect color match for me, and applies really smoothly without emphasizing my dry, flaky patches which is always a good thing. Yeah, so far it’s pretty awesome 🙂

http://www.sephora.com/pure-radiant-tinted-moisturizer-spf-30-pa-P302923?skuId=1396399

 

Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Moss Lipstick in 08

Picture found on Drugstore.com

Unlike the Revlon lip products, I was not impressed by this lipstick. Which is really disappointing because the color is beautiful and it is really pigmented. This lipstick has a really strange finish on the lips, it’s very heavy and a bit dry. The only way I can describe it as being like the kind of lipstick old ladies might wear. It also has a pretty strong smell that I am not keen on, it’s very sickly. I will continue to experiment with it to see if it improves, but I may just end up making a tinted lip balm out of it.

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2241205&productId=xlsImpprod4090119&navAction=push&navCount=1&categoryId=cat80058#sku2241208

Rimmel London Special Eyes Precision Eyeliner Pencil in 125 Navy Blue

Picture found on Target.com

This is a pretty standard blue eyeliner pencil, although it is a bit on the hard side. The color is pretty, but not anything amazing- a cream navy blue, exactly as stated in the name.

http://www.target.com/p/eye-liner-125-se-04oz-nvy-blue/-/A-13991695#prodSlot=medium_1_14&term=rimmel%20eyeliner

ELF Mineral Infused Mascara in Black

Image found on Eyeslipsface.com

I have been using this mascara every day since I got it, and so far I love it! I makes my lashes very separate and super long, like doll lashes. It is all lengthening as no thickening though, so while I personally love that I know it is not to everybody’s taste. But really for $3 you can’t really go wrong…

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/studio/eyes/mascara/mineral_infused_mascara

ELF Makeup Mist & Set

Image found on Eyeslipsface.com

I’ve used this a couple times, and I’m not sure about how much this extends the wear time of my makeup, but it really does make my foundation look even more natural in terms of finish so it is certainly worth the $3 right there… if you don’t mind the shit-ton of parabans. It really sucks that they are in there, because it also has really nice ingredients like green tea and aloe and stuff. Since the green tea has antioxidants, it helps fight free radicals that would eventually age your skin. I have no clue about the effectiveness when applied topically, but it does sound like a nice thing to spray onto your face.

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/studio/face/tools/makeup_mist_and_set

ELF Custom Compact

Image found at Eyeslipsface.com

I have another one of these that is not yet full, but it was $1 and it’s always nice to have extras. Oh, you people buying those MAC magnetic palettes or Z-Palettes or whatever? You are wasting your money. These are surprisingly sturdy, and hold 4 round eyeshadows (a little bit bigger than MAC shadows) with the divider in and 9ish with the divider out. Yes folks, that is $1 for a sturdy case compared to $9 for one from MAC. Really, it’s a no brainer.

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/products.asp?dept_id=1088

EcoTools Bamboo 6 Piece Eye Brush Set

Image found on Ecotools.com

So originally I wanted the ELF tapered blending brush because I misplaced my old one. They didn’t carry it at the Target that I went to, so I picked up this set because I needed the brush desperately and I had never tried the brand. Plus it was nice and cheap, and I can always use more brushes anyway :).  The set contains:

• Large Eye Brush
• Angled Crease Brush
• Petite Eye Shading Brush
• Highlighting Brush
• Smudge Brush
• Hemp & Cotton Case with mirror and room for your makeup brush set

I really haven’t used it much yet, but the brushes are reasonably soft and they seem well made. The only thing is the large eye brush and the angled crease brush are MASSIVE. I do have pretty small eyelids, but these still seem huge even for normal sized eyelids. I don’t know… And just FYI, there are NOT 6 brushes in the set, there are 5. I guess they are counting the case as a ‘piece’? I’m not sure. Anyway, this confused me, so no, it’s not just you. you are not going crazy.

http://www.ecotools.com/bamboo-6-piece-eye-brush-set

Conair Styling Essential Brush with Reinforced Boar Bristles

Image found on CVS.com

I got this at CVS because I heard that these brushes are really good for your hair. So far I do like it, although it does take longer to get all my tangles out, it does make my hair smoother.

http://www.cvs.com/shop/product-detail/Conair-Styling-Essentials-Brush-with-Reinforced-Boar-Bristles?skuId=489182

Other Stuff

Bath and Body Works Candles

This is one of the places I was most excited to go. And for those who have not smelt the leaves candle, believe the hype. You have not lived until you have smelt it! I got a small Leaves candle, a mini Spice candle, and a mini Spiced Apple Toddy candle. I also got some more that I am not showing here as they are to be gifted to some lucky lucky people 🙂

Double H® Sonora™ Ladies Vintage Calvary Slouch Western Boots in Tan Brown

Just when you though Revlon had come out with the longest product name ever, Double H comes along. Honestly, there is no way to express how awesome these boots are. They are not completely traditional, they are more like if a pair of cowboy boots and a pair of riding boots had a baby and that baby grew up in Texas. In short, they are perfect. Side note, if you want cowboy boots, go to Cavenders if you can. I have no clue if they are only in Houston or in Texas or more places as well, but they have a massive selection and all different styles.

http://www.cavenders.com/western/women/ladies-boots-shoes/western-round-toe-boots/DH3275?cm_vc=categorypage

Longhorns Shirt

I decided I needed to show my support, so I picked this one up at Sport’s Authority. It is super soft and comfy, as I like that it isn’t in-your-face orange as Longhorn’s apparel normally is. I couldn’t find a link online, but there are so many other nice ones to choose from so if you can’t pick it up in store you are certain to find one you like online. Mine is just plain grey with the orange “Texas” across the chest

American Eagle Outfitters Authentic Dark Indigo Super-Stretch Jeggings

Image found on AE.com

These are super comfy and fit me really well, which is a miracle for me because for me that is always a challenge. Well not this time, I guess!

http://www.ae.com/web/browse/product.jsp?productId=0431_7598_965&catId=cat90120

 

Review: Lush No Drought Dry Shampoo

115g

Lush UK: £6.50

Lush US: $12.95

Lush DE: 12,35 €

https://www.lush.co.uk/product/5669/No-Drought-Dry-Shampoo

http://www.lushusa.com/No-Drought/03589,en_US,pd.html?start=6&cgid=solid-shampoos

http://www.lush-shop.de/no-drought-trockenshampoo-115-g.3230.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isn’t that cute?!?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This product is meant to absorb some of the oil on second or third-day hair (depending on how oily your hair is) to give you an extra day before washing. It has corn flour and talc to “absorb the excess oil”, while “lemon, grapefruit and lime oils will give your hair a fresh and fruity fragrance too”.

 

Ingredients:

Corn Oil (Zea mays) , Magnesium Carbonate , Talc , Perfume , Grapefruit Oil (Citrus paradisi) , Lime Oil (Citrus aurantifolia) , *Citral , *Geraniol , *Limonene , *Linalool

 

I like this dry shampoo quite a bit, the powder does absorb oil pretty well and gives my hair some volume (sometimes I use it on clean hair just for that!). The smell is just… ahh, it is just fantabulous. It does smell as fresh as described, it smells very citrusy. Apparently the grapefruit scent is supposed to be the most prominent, but honestly I smell the lime much more strongly. Not that it matters much. Just as I am sitting here writing this post with the bottle in front of me, I have to stop every few sentences and smell this stuff. That is the level of amazingness that is contained in this 100% recycled plastic bottle. (On a side note, can we please just pause for a moment and consider how awesome Lush is? I have been pretty obsessed; I love watching their YouTube videos about the process their ingredients go through. Also I have discovered I have a special talent for sniffing out Lush shops. Literally. I was in Stratford-Upon-Avon, and I was standing on some street corner, and I smelt Lush. I asked, and the shop was maybe 500 meters away and was not even visible from where I was standing. Ahh, the smell of Lush stores. It never fails to make me smile, just smelling that gorgeous smell.)

Ok ok, I’m done waxing poetic about Lush. For now. Maybe. Anyway, as much as this product is amazing, it does have some qualities that could be improved on. First is the packaging. Now, I know aerosol cans aren’t the best for the environment and I appreciate that Lush was keeping that in mind when they were designing the packaging of this product. However, I think that not being able to spray the product really detracts from the effectiveness of the product. Ok, it’s not terrible, it’s still possible to get your hair relatively clean looking, but it is a lot harder to do and your hair still doesn’t end up looking as clean as using a traditional spray dry shampoo. The one advantage of the packaging (other than its environmentally-friendliness) is that you go through product a whole lot slower, and I do mean a whole lot, slower than a traditional dry shampoo.

Keeping in mind the effectiveness, I’m also not so happy that this product was so much more expensive than other dry shampoos that would have been maybe more effective. I mean, Batiste is also non-animal testing, and their 150 ml cans are prices at like 3 quid. That’s less than half price. Granted, you could conceivably go through two cans of Batiste per bottle of Lush, but the Batiste would still work better.

 

Overall:

I have kind of mixed feelings on this product. I like the product itself, and I love the scent and Lush, but I’m just not jazzed about the packaging. Would I buy it again? Unless they change the packaging, probably not for it’s dry shampoo qualities. On the volume and smell front, I would seriously consider it. It does work ok though, and Lush gets some serious kudos for their campaigning and their ethics. With some brands you can be pretty sure that they don’t test on animals, but you can’t really be certain. With Lush you get as close to a guarantee as you could possibly get, and I think that the security of Lush may lean me towards purchasing it again.

Rating: B

This or That Tag

This looked like a really fun tag to do, so I shall do it!

 

Makeup

Blush or Bronzer? Umm I tend to be a bit hesitant around bronzer so I will go with blush 🙂 Plus it is much more interesting…
Lipgloss or Lipstick? Lipstick! I used to hate gloss, but I am slowly growing more accepting of it… but still lipstick wins hands down.
Eyeliner or Mascara? I would have to go for eyeliner on this one… I was incredibly lucky and got fairly long and dark lashes so I can go without mascara. Eyeliner I wear nearly every day, though
Foundation or Concealer? Umm… foundation I guess?
Neutral or Colour Eyeshadow? Neutrals! I think they just look so so pretty :))
Pressed or Loose Eyeshadow? Pressed. Pressed pressed pressed! Loose shadows are such a hassle, and I’m a bit of a klutz. You can imagine how well that works out for me…
Brushes or Sponges? Brushes, sponges just do not work for me. I don’t know how Emilynoel83 does it…

Nails
OPI or China Glaze? I actually have never tried China Glaze, so I will have to go with OPI
Long or Short? Long!! Except when they are nasty and pointy…
Acrylic or Natural? Ummm natural preferably, but I think acrylics can look quite good if done well.
Brights or Darks? Hmm… I would have to go with darks because those are the colors I like in terms of clothes, but I do like brights as well…
Flower or No Flower? No flower on me, but I have infinite respect for those who can do nail art…

Body
Perfume or Body Splash? Perfume! I don’t know why, but I always associate body splashes with really sweet and sickly scents, so I tend to stay away…
Lotion or Body Butter? Body butter 🙂 I like my creams to be really thick
Body Wash or Soap? I honestly don’t mind, although I guess I do use body wash more often
Lush or Other Bath Company? Lush! There’s one Lush in my town, and the people there probably think I’m a freak because I go in so often and drool over everything… And also just walking past is an experience all of its own, the scent coming out of the shop is just fab… So distinctive and powerful is the scent that just walking within maybe 100 meters of a shop, I can find it out without seeing it just by smell

Fashion
Jeans or Sweatpants? I wouldn’t really wear sweats out of the house, but inside I wear mostly sweats 🙂
Long Sleeve or Short? Short! When I wear long sleeves they always get pushed up to my elbows
Dresses or Skirts? Dresses, although I don’t wear them that often.
Stripes or Plaid? Stripes!
Flip Flops or Sandals? Oooh tough… I love open shoes in general… maybe sandals…?
Scarves or Hats? Scarves! I love wearing scarves, don’t like wearing hats…
Studs or Dangly Earrings? Both…?
Necklaces or Bracelets? Ummm bracelets, I guess
Heels or Flats? I wish I was the kind of person who could wear heels every day, but unfortunately I am a flat person 😦
Cowboy Boots or Riding Boots? As a Texan I feel obligated to say cowboy boots, but I’m going to have to go with riding boots
Jacket or Hoodie? I do love both, but I think I am going with the hoodie 🙂
Forever 21 or Charlotte Russe? Forever 21, although I do quite like Charlotte Russe. I think Forever 21 just has more cute stuff…
Abercrombie or Hollister? Abercrombie! More of the stuff fits me, and I absolutely despise the Hollister perfume
Saks 5th or Nordstrom? Saks!

Hair
Curly or Straight? I love both, but I probably like curls better 🙂
Bun or Ponytail? I wear buns more often, so I guess I’ll go with that
Bobby Pins or Butterfly Clips? Bobby pins, I canNOT pull off butterfly clips…
Hairspray or Hair Gel? Ew, both of them make me cringe, I hate hate HATE crunchy hair… I guess hairspray does seem like the lesser of the two evils though…
Long or Short? Long! On me, anyway
Side swept bangs or full bangs? I have had both, and like them both… I think I liked the side-swept bangs a bit better though
Up or Down? Down!
Random
Rain or Shine? Rain! I love snuggly clothes, rain boots, and Extreme Puddle Jumping 🙂
Summer or Winter? I guess winter, I like snow at first and I hate sweating.
Autumn or Spring? Autumn! It is my absolute favorite season. I could write a book on all the reasons that make Autumn awesome 🙂
Chocolate or Vanilla? Vanilla
East Coast or West Coast? East Coast! I love New England style, and I have a slight obsession with seeing the trees in Autumn there. Also, I have my heart set on Wharton for grad school.

That concludes my tag, hope you enjoyed it!

Lilla xx

NOTD: OPI San Tan-tonio

 

This color was one that really grew on me. I got it as a gift, but to be honest when I first saw it I didn’t think I would like it. But after I finally applied it and wore it for a bit, I found myself really enjoying it. I will definitely be reaching for this one more! I also love how it’s part of the Texas collection, as I am from Texas. I feel like a bit of a traitor, though, as I don’t own the Houston one… That will have to be my next OPI color!

Have a great weekend y’all!

Lilla xx

 

 

 

 

Cambridge HAUL!!

Cambridge Haul!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So I was in Cambridge for 3 weeks this summer, and I picked up a couple of things. I’m quite surprised actually, normally I would have gotten more things and then not used them as much, but I think this time I spent my money on things that I will actually use. Let’s just get started!

Clothing

I got two articles of clothing from Primark, a top and a jacket.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I really love both these pieces, I think the top is so elegant and stunning, and I honestly have never seen anything like it. It can be worn just in an everyday outfit worn with jeans, but it can also be a bit more dressy if tucked into a skirt so it is fairly versatile! I think it was ₤8.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The jacket is one of those pieces that can finish off a bit of a boring outfit, it makes everything look a little more polished! It fits really nicely, and also reminds me of one of those Chanel jackets everyone is going gaga over. For ₤10, I was very happy!

All my other clothing I got from New Look. I must say, I really enjoy shopping at New Look because I always find something I like, and I get a 10% student discount!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Again, I am very happy with all these pieces as I think I will get a lot of use out of them. I love flowey things, so the top is right up my alley. I must say I do tend to shy away from color a bit, so this is a great way to incorporate some color into my wardrobe. I would probably wear this with classic denim shorts in the summer and I think I might even be able to bring this into autumn with black leggings. This was on sale for ₤10, so I was very happy with that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These pants are the most comfortable bottoms I have ever worn, with the exception of my pajama bottoms! They are really stretchy, but quite sturdy as well. I think the color and cut is quite flattering, and they go with everything. Unfortunately they are a bit big on me, but it’s not that much of an issue. I think these were around ₤17, so quite good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have been searching high and low for a plain black maxi dress that I like, and now I have found it! It is very simple and elegant, and very flattering. I love maxi dresses in general because they are a great way to keep cool in the summer without showing off your legs (I am not so happy with mine), but I love this one especially because it is so versatile! You could get away with wearing this to the beach or for a more formal event. I also really like the silver detailing on the straps. I can’t remember how much this dress was, but I think it was around the ₤20 mark.

Accessories

I got most of my accessories from Primark (I love Primark, it is amazing!), but I did get some sandals from New Look.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The flats were from Primark, and I think they are super cute! I don’t tend to buy expensive shoes because my feet tip in a bit when I walk, so I end up ruining shoes, expensive or not! These were between ₤4 and ₤6, so you can’t really beat that. They are really comfortable, and fit very well. The only problem is they get dirty really fast because they are a suede-type material, but if you wash them in the washing machine it will take off most of the dirt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I got the sandals on sale for ₤3 I think, and boy was I lucky with these. The shop was closing, and I needed shoes to match my dress, so I literally just grabbed these and bought them without trying them on. In addition, they aren’t something I would normally go for, with the glitter. But now I am really happy that I bought them, they go with so many outfits and they are SPARKLEY!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The bag was one of those things that I saw and I knew I had to get it. It was also an out-of-character purchase because I don’t wear red very often, but I think it will serve me well. It is huge, so I am using it as a school bag. I am very surprised, it fits all my books and still closes! It was ₤12, so just about right for a school bag.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don’t actually own any clutches, so when I saw this one for ₤6 I decided to get it. It is a rather large envelope clutch; it fits pretty much everything you would need it to for a night out. It goes with a lot as well, as it is very simple. It also has a gold chain you can carry it with , but I wouldn’t use it. I like it!

Beauty

Finally, we get to the most exciting part of the haul… beauty! This is the category where I made my most extravagant purchase of the 3 weeks, which is another out-of-character buy that I love.

Organix Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil Conditioner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I got this mini-sized conditioner from Boots for like ₤1-2. It does the job and smells quite nice, but I don’t think it is anything really special, and is also a little bit more expensive than other conditioners.

MUA Eyeliners in Jet Black and Rich Brown

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These were a whopping ₤1 each from Superdrug, so definitely a great deal. I got black and brown, so not very exciting, I’m afraid. I hardly ever wear brown, so I didn’t want to spend too much on one, but I think it is a good thing to have on hand. These are very creamy and pigmented, but they can be a bit too creamy at times. If applied incorrectly they smudge like nothing else, but it can be easily worked around.

Jack Wills Lipsticks in Wine and Vivid Pink

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I cannot resist pink lipstick, so when I saw these were not animal tested, I got super excited, and bought two. I got the shade Wine, and the shade Vivid Pink in the gloss finish. I bought the Wine shade for my friend who has a deeper complexion, and I think it will look amazing on her. The Vivid Pink is a more rosy but bright pink. The finish is phenomenal, they are not only not drying, but also slightly moisturizing as well!! If that wasn’t enough, the packaging for these lipsticks is to die for, it is just so cute!

Lush No Drought Dry Shampoo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Lush I picked up the No Drought dry shampoo it smells amazing, works quite well, and will last me for ages. I only wish it came in a spray bottle of some sort because then it would be a whole lot easier to use.

Lush Feeling Younger Highlighter

 

 

 

 

 

As most of the world knows by now, Lush has come out with a range of color cosmetics. I bought the Feeling Younger highlighter on Livie from Liviesays’s reommendation. I’m not sure how I feel about it, it is a really strange iridescent pink color in some lights. I don’t think the camera was able to pick it up at all in any of the pictures except maybe the last one, but it is really strange. I have found it to be pretty applied to the top of the cheekbones very, very lightly for a subtle highlight, but I will have to play around with it a bit more before I can form an opinion. I wish I had also bought the mascara from the Emotional Brilliance line, I tried it out in store but for some reason decided not to get it. I think I will pick it up soon, though.

Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss Flash Lipgloss in 982 Black-Tie Plum

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ladies and gents, this is the extravagant purchase. I saw this at a stand in Boots loved the color, but normally I hate lipglosses so I decided not to buy it. Then I saw it again on my last day, swatched it, and really, really, REALLY wanted it. But they were all out. So I had to run across town to John Lewis and I managed to pick one up right before the shop closed. And I must say, I am so glad I did. I love everything about it. The color is gorgeous, the packaging is stunning, and it can be worn not so glossy, just how I like it. It was worth every single cent.

So that’s it for my Cambridge haul, hope you liked it and have a great day!

Most Worn Products Tag *Summer Edition*

I really enjoyed watching other people do this tag, so I have decided to turn it into a blog post. Hope you like it!

1) Most worn nail polish

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It would probably have to be either OPI’s Lucern-tainly Look Marvelous or Wet n Wild’s Emblazed. Emblazed is a quite summery color, but the OPI color? Not so much… I think it was because the beginning of the summer the whether here in Germany was really super cold.

2) Most worn scent

Image courtesy of Sephora.com

I wore Dior Addict Eau Fraiche quite a bit, but more towards the end of the summer, I really like it. Apparently it has notes of bergamot, grapefruit, orange, freesia, lily of the valley, lotus flower, pineapple, watermelon, grenadine, sandalwood, and white musk, but honestly I wouldn’t know because I am terrible at describing scents. It is a very appropriate scent for summer, it is pretty light. I guess that’s from the floral notes? Anyway, it is beautiful.

3) Most worn hair product

Image courtesy of The Body Shop

Image courtesy of JohnFrieda.com

This is quite easy, The Body Shop Rainforest Shampoo for oily hair and the John Frieda detangling spray. Right now my hair is the healthiest it has ever been, and I am pretty sure it is down to one or both of these products. I cannot rep the Body Shop shampoo enough, I love everything about it. It is sulfate free but still manages to fully clean my hair, and smells phenomenal to boot (to see the full post, click here). The John Frieda detangling spray is pretty good as well, it does the job and smells quite good (and to see the full post for this one, click here).

4) Most worn bag

Image courtesy of Bloomingdales.com

Again, an easy one: I only really ever use one bag outside of school, and that is my Longchamp Le Pliage. I love it (obviously!), it is chic and timeless and goes with everything. It is also a good size for me; it fits everything I need to bring, without being too big. This is very important for me, because I tend to bring a lot of stuff so I need space, but if the bag is too big I will fill it with all kinds of crap that I would never need and I would give myself back problems.

5) Most worn shoes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That would definitely be my flip-flops! I hate wearing socks, so as soon as the weather permitted I donned my sandals and hardly took them off after! I got this pair in Italy, from a shop called Scout. I am very impressed with them, they are extremely sturdy and they were only 10€!! When I walk my feet turn in, and I have wrecked so many pairs of shoes, both cheap and not so cheap. For these flip-flops to be in the condition that they are in after a whole summer of wearing them pretty much non-stop is nothing short of amazing.

6) Most worn accessory

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My sunnies! These are my babies, they are oversized and gorgeous and just generally perfect! They are from Versace, and I feel like a movie star when I wear them.

7) Most worn clothing item

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I guess this would have to be my American Eagle top. This is one of my favorites out of all the tops that I have, I love how baggy it is as well and the pattern on the tie.

8+9) Most worn blush/bronzer and lip product

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have combined these two questions because the answer is the same for both of them. I have used MAC’s Costa Chic both on my lips and on my cheeks because it saves time and looks really nice! It also means less product I have to carry around with me to touch up.

10) Most worn mascara

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I only use one mascara at a time, so this summer was still my Bourjois Volume Glamour Max mascara in its awesome hot pink tube.

11) Most worn eyeshadow

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I didn’t really wear eyeshadow very much this season, I got really into smudgy eyeliner… my most worn eyeliner, though, would have to be the Body Shop eyeliner in Blue Smoke.

Well, that’s it, I hope you enjoyed my tag post!

NOTD: OPI Eiffel for this Color

This is a really nice dark purple, and I think this is a great alternative to black. You do need 3 coats to get it fully opaque, but it is a really nice color! I will really enjoy wearing this in the fall as well.

Hope you are having a great Friday!

Lilla xx