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!

Review: NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils (Yogurt, Cottage Cheese)

Ulta: $4.49

Douglas: €4.95

http://www.nyxcosmetics.com/products/eyes/eye-shadow/jumbo-eye-pencil

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Yogurt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Cottage Cheese

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is probably one of the most confusing products I have ever tried. Confusing for several reasons, but the main reason, the ‘parent’ reason, if you will, is the fact that people continually rave about, recommend, and repurchase these things.

One major point that people that people always talk about when they review these guys is the pigmentation. That, I will allow for. The pigmentation is pretty good. And yes, they do make shadows way more vibrant. Ok, on that point I agree with everyone else.

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils Swatches
Left: Cottage Cheese
Right: Yogurt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From left to right: Urban Decay Sidecar over Cottage Cheese, Sidecar over UD Primer Potion, Sidecar on its own

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But in every other respect? They suck.

People do normally talk about the creasing in their reviews, and I agree. My eyelids are pretty oily, and this creased like crazy without primer almost immediately. With primer, it lasted a tad bit longer, but nowhere near what it should. Setting it with a powder also helps, but it doesn’t completely solve the problem

Surprisingly enough, what I haven’t heard squat about (although maybe I didn’t look hard enough), is how unbelievably crappy the packaging is. The lids crack really easily, and so either continuously slip off or get jammed too far down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That’s bad, but honestly if this happened with another product that I liked it I could definitely deal with it. The cap never smushes the product, at least. But no, I have far worse gripes with the packaging. So when I got the product and was checking it out for the first time, I was pretty disappointed when I couldn’t find a way to twist the product up and down. It looked like what you could see through the lid was pretty much all the product you were going to get. OK, I know $4 isn’t going to break the bank, but for that much product? So not worth it. I’m not great with measurements, but I was pretty sure that what I was seeing was not 5 grams. I got curious and wanted to see how much product was actually in the stick. What did I do? I cracked that sucker open. By the way, I wouldn’t really recommend trying it, it makes a huge mess. And ladies and gentlemen, when I say huge, I mean huge. To my amazement, the product ran a fair ways down, about the where the color name was! All that product, and as far as I could tell, no way to access the product. Excluding breaking the packaging, or depotting it, of course. There was no way to twist it up, and the packaging is plastic so sharpening it down like a traditional wooden eyeliner pencil is out. I don’t know about you, but I for one do not call that good packaging. No one else seemed to be complaining about this though, so there may be some secret way that I don’t know about. If you know, please comment below. It bamboozles me. But even if there is a way, if I haven’t found it within like 5 minutes of looking at the product, it is too obscure and therefore doesn’t work.

Conclusion:

This product does make colors pop, but honestly if you need to depot it before you can actually use it (taking away the whole jumbo stick advantages) and even then it creases despite your best efforts, it is NOT a product that I would consider worth purchasing, even if it is under $5. When you consider how many cream eyeshadows there are, and even how many fatter stick cream eyeshadows there are, I really don’t think there is a justification for getting this product.

Rating: C-