Somewhat of a Haul

It is somewhat a rite of passage for bloggers to do a Christmas haul, isn't it? I feel like I've broken the rules as I'm not actually sharing my Christmas presents, instead, more of my excessive online shopping habits. "Well, those Debenhams beauty card points aren't going to spend themselves, are they?!..." 

I have wanted to pick up Tom Ford's Shade and Illuminate palette for what seems like forever, but constantly put it off for fear of sparking an obsession with the excessively expensive Tom Ford beauty range the same way I did with Chanel. As of right now I'm enamoured by this palette (as you can probably see from the smeared finger marks, I got impatient waiting for daylight to get blog photos done) but I feel like any obsession is kept well under control. Or maybe that is just cause I'm projecting my obsessions elsewhere? Who knows? 

I also picked up Laura Mercier's Secret Camoflage concealer palette, probably a tad too dark considering I usually wear lighter than my skin-tone concealer, but the thickness and quality of this product is like no other. It lives up to it's camoflage name, it will absolutely make any dark circles or blemishes disappear.

So, I ran all of these photos through Photoshop to resize them, and have only just noticed myself making an appearance in this photo. I'm clearly easier to find than Wally.

I've done all the Naked Urban Decay palettes now, I was underwhelmed by Naked 2, but the third offering is incredible and gets used very often by me. Naturally, I had to explore a bit more into the palette that sparked the whole obsession with their Naked range, didn't I? Half Baked, Sin and Sidecar are my current go-to shades, but if anyone has any combinations they'd recommend, do send them my way!

The Bobbi Brown Smoky Nudes palette attracted my attention before Christmas, despite being another neutral palette, it's elegant charm came from the super cute pull out drawer and incredible tortoiseshell packaging design. The quality of these is incredible, and this palette is much more compact than most, whilst not suffering on the quality of the shadows themselves or colour selection.

If you ever wanted to buy an eyeshadow palette to just ogle, this would be it...

And it wouldn't be a haul of mine without Dior or Chanel, would it? I picked up two of the standout shades from the new Spring Kingdom of Colours Collection, Le Vernis in Lady and Rouge Dior Baume in Belle de Printemps. As with all the other reformulated Dior nail polishes, the lasting power is incredible, the shine is similar to that of a gel, and the colour Lady, is just that, an elegant ladylike mauve shade. The lip balm seems to get different shade descriptions just about everywhere it is described, in my opinion, its a beautiful pink/coral shade, not too dissimilar to my favourite balm; Clinique's Mighty Mimosa. Not sure whether this collection is widely available yet or not, I picked mine up from Selfridges online.

I also picked up two of the Nars Audacious lipsticks, which can fully be blamed on Tasha, as it's her penchant for Nars that had me lusting after these two shades, Julie and Anita, like nothing else. I haven't tried Anita yet, but the quality of them is incredible, and the magnetised bullet feature has me embarassingly excited. (No shame.)

Lookfantastic had some incredible offers on before Christmas, so I filled up my basket to the extent of it reaching nearly £300 before I realised that is outright ridiculous, and went about culling my basket down to things I need want. I picked up the Aveda Smooth Infusion in an attempt to calm down my corkscrew curls and frizz to something that might resemble a beach wave (wishful thinking) and the Kerastase mousse in an attempt to control the frizz I do get. Do you remember mousse? I can't believe it still exists. This one is so far from the stuff I used to slap all over my hair until it was crispy in my teens. I think the saying "you get what you pay for" applies...

And thanks to BeautyBay no longer stocking LDN Skins, I'm in the market for a new tinted light tanner that I can build up, and have last longer than the mediocre 5-7 days of a proper self tan. It's hard work being pasty pale, but hopefully the new St Tropez tanning oil and Cocoa Brown Gradual tan can help me out a bit. Fingers crossed.

So there you have some of my more exciting purchases recently. At least the ones that have arrived, I'm still waiting on a Free People and a Levi's order to show up. I'm impatient, and the waiting for parcels period is the worst. Can every company have next-day delivery, please?

Sephora Haul

Like the rest of the beauty-obsessed world, I got SUPER excited when Sephora started to ship to the UK, and after a small amount of scouring I was left underwhelmed. Most of the brands weren't available for UK shipping, and not to mention the £75 spend to qualify for the £10 flat rate shipping. Then there's the tax... But finding out the delivery rate had been lowered; I caved. Yes, I do have very little willpower.

Being someone that reads a lot of American blogs and beauty sites I feel like I'd heard an absolute ton about this Japanese wonder-brand and the huge cult following in numerous countries. The Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation is something that boasts a lightweight, "aqua" formula, with light-medium coverage and still allows the skin to breathe. Think Chanel's Vitalumiere Aqua but in a fancier bottle and much harder to get hold of. This foundation really is a thing of wonder and offers very lightweight coverage whilst staying put all day and not looking like you're caked in makeup. Not that I'd suggest buying foundation online and from America, I spent a good hour looking at colour swatches and definitely got lucky.

Being faithful to my Nars Pro Prime eyeshadow base, I felt like I was cheating a little buying Tarte's eye primer. I haven't actually used this yet, as for once I'm waiting till I've finished one before starting another. There's a first time for everything, right?

The LipSurgence lip pencils by Tarte dragged me in straight away given they have a matte finish, and how much I love applying lipstick in a pencil applicator. I bought the shade flush which is a highly-pigmented, deep berry pink that can be worn heavily or blotted down to a natural flush (no pun intended.) And stays put for a good 5-6 hours before needing reapplication. If you eat a ton of burgers however I'd give it a much shorter lifespan.

How sweet is the packaging on these pencils? Definitely want more! 

Seriously, believe the hype on this one. Anastasia Beverly Hills throws it out the ballpark once again with this stay-put formula. I bought one of the newest shades, Medium Brown, as all the others were too dark, and this is an ideal match for my brows, being not too dark or red. This dinky little pot packs a punch when it comes to pigmentation, and I find it best used with an angled brush once the excess has been wiped off. The best part? It completely stays put, like doesn't budge at all. They should have contemplated calling it Bulletproof pomade. Because it sets so quickly, you do have to work a lot quicker than you usually would with brow products. Something you can overlook for perfectly defined brows.

Hope you guys enjoyed a little nosey at what I bought. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my camera will be back within the next week and I can get busy on new posts. iPhone photography is definitely NOT my thing.

A Haul of the Large Variety

As I write this, I sit angrily staring at my camera, that has temporarily decided to go kaput. Of course I'm not actually sitting giving a Canon camera stink-eye, I just do every time I'm stuck for words. I did promise quite a while ago to share another haul, which I just managed to shoot before my camera went to sleep. So there is some good news to accompany the bad.

Here's some of the things I've bought recently... (And pretty please do note, that some of these were birthday gifts, some bought with birthday money, a couple were gifted by companies, and some were bought with various reward cards). 

Naturally, there's a good dose of Chanel. I'm obsessed with the Destiny cream blush and the mascara, so they will be popping up here on ze blog, and on my face much more! Chanel Illusion D'Ombre in Utopia was something I felt completely smitten with, and it's pretty much the lavender version of Emerveille, but the purple tones are much more brightening on the eye area (apparently lilac lids are something we associate with children, hence the anti-ageing. Smart!)

I caved. After buying my first Charlotte Tilbury bits a few months ago, I had to jump on the Filmstar Bronze and Glow bandwagon, and BOY is it amazing. (I'll be reviewing all my CT bits on The Beauty Corner soon.) When you think Dior can't make even better nail polishes, they go ahead and reformulate to a gel-finish and release beautiful vintage red shades like Rouge 999 - I'm in love! And needless to say, I just NEEDED two more lip balms. 

I'm blaming the purchase of this wonderful bottle of Lani hair treatment on Steph, cause it's always much easier blaming it on someone else. This is an all-natural hair oil treatment, that smells like holidays, and does incredible things to your hair. I insist you try it. And as I found a LookFantastic discount code, and kept hearing about Shu Uemura's Art of Hair products, I am a bad person that doesn't need this many hair products had to make a purchase.

More hair products? I have a problem. Another oil? Yes. Neal and Wolf were darling enough to send me the blow dry balm to help me along the way whilst I'm introducing my hair to cleansing conditioner. FYI, the first stage isn't pretty, but when you get used to it, you feel like you're living a shampoo commercial. The lightening spray is 110% justified, if you could see my roots you'd be trying this too. My hairdresser is on maternity leave, so I wanted something to keep me going until she got back. Unfortunately I chickened out, and I'm still waiting on her return, just this time with about 2 inches of roots instead of 1cm. 

No haul is complete without a couple bits from Space NK. After running down my second bottle of REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal I was impatiently trying to replace it - I love this stuff! I wish I could say the same for the He-Shit tan (That was HONESTLY a typo. It seems pretty darn relevant though.) which is the worst fake tan I've ever used. It soaks through mitts, smells of biscuits, and has zero benefits, whatsoever. BOO, what a waste of money.

This beautiful necklace was my Birthday present from my Nanna and Grandad. I love it so much. Dogeared has lots of jewellery with meaning, and the packaging helps make it so much more personal. I can see this becoming attached to my neck like no necklaces have done before.

What does anyone that's obsessed with fashion do with their birthday money? Ray-Bans of course! These are the small Clubmasters, and they're the perfect mix of classic styling, hippy influences, and the ideal amount of me in the reflection. Hey!

With my Waterstones card collecting money like there's no tomorrow, I went a tad book crazy. I love reading, so I like having a good selection to choose from when I'm due a new read. I'm currently reading Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children, and it really isn't the best book to read in bed, but it's definitely peculiar...

Hope you're not all wasting away by the time you've reached the bottom of this post. Congratulations though, you've made it, you can go and get a cuppa now and go back to the real world.

Lots of love.

Shopping Shopping

I kept meaning to do a haul post, shoving the packaging from all of these into a box, and saying "next week!" ... a few months and an overflowing wicker basket later, here's pretty much this years shopping. (I very kindly put the 6 bags of cotton wool I got to one side... You're welcome.) And okay... I've done way more shopping, but I've lost track.

I've really got a Dior/Chanel addiction haven't I? I swear, if I posted more frequently, it'd soon become the only thing I ever spoke about. Chanel Inimitable mascara is brilliant for a natural, wide-eyed look, and makes the perfect accompanying product for their Illusion D'Ombre in Emerveille, which is a beautiful creamy pink shimmer, almost like a sheer and glossier MAC Naked Lunch. (Just my kind of colour. Hubba, hubba...)  

The lady at Dior had impeccable sales techniques in getting me to buy the Dior Fluid Stick (shade: Kiss Me) saying she'd apply it on me to see what it's like as my lips looked dry... I resisted for all of two minutes. I said I'd think about it, catching a glimpse of it in a mirror at the YSL counter I boomeranged straight back to Dior "I'LL TAKE THEM ALL PLEASE..." kidding.

Are there any glamorous ways of doing swatches, too? These little arm blotches aren't quite cutting it for me. (Top to bottom; Dior Rouge Lipstick in 779 Illusion, Dior Fluid Stick in Kiss Me, Chanel Illusion D'Ombre in Emerveille)

Feels a bit like a cop out putting something you've won into a haul post, but these things I got from Gemma and Laura were too good to not share...

I was like a kid at Christmas with this Urban Decay Vice 2 palette, it's colour range is incredible, and the buttery soft UD shadows had me saying "ooooh" more times than the Toy Story aliens... 

Snuck this order in whilst Escentual had 1/3 off French pharmacy, along with the Dior Illusion lipstick, the Avene water being a common repurchase for me, and this being the largest bottle yet, I'm having problems finding somewhere to keep it! I'm completely against dry shampoo too, but recently my hair has been being a tad awkward, so I was hoping something more natural like this Klorane offering would be less harsh than the likes of Batiste (shudder).



Anything by Jo Malone really needs to be introduced via a regal announcement, but since I don't have a trumpet, you'll have to believe that this Peony and Blush Suede Cologne is the most elegant, long-lasting and well packaged perfume I've ever owned.

I've already featured RMS's Living Luminizer once, so this seems reasonably backwards, but I LOVE THIS STUFF. Strivectin's Dark Circle eye cream on the other hand, I'm still on the fence on whether this expensive pot is doing anything other than that of what a cheap moisturiser could do.

As I usually stick at the bottom of any haul posts, please drop a comment, tweet, or IG if you want anything reviewed in full. We'd be here all day if I did them all...

Recent purchases (temporary AND permanent)

Thought I'd gather up some of the things I've been buying (and doing!) recently, and share them, cause you know, I have nothing better to do. The fact that these seem to be following a colour scheme is a pure accident. As much as I'm a sucker for pretty packaging, I swear...

The This Works Perfect Legs Gradual Tan (aaand breathe...) is actually a repurchase for me, and has popped up here a few times now, and it is my go-to tanner for my legs in summer given it smells like henna. I think I bought it hoping summer would hurry up, a few days in, nothing yet...

The Kerastase Cristalliste range just sounded perfect for what I was looking for in a shampoo and conditioner, so I thought I'd give these ago when I had a "better than nothing" 15% off FeelUnique haircare.

The Kiehls serum was one I used not too long ago, was unsure whether to repurchase or not, but everything in between has been fifty shades of disappointing, so it's baaaack! And the world-famous eight hour cream? Well... curiousity killed the cat, I felt like I finally had to try it, and so far, I'm pretty darn impressed by this multi-tasking wonder.

My favourite bargain OF ALL TIME goes to this leather jacket from Whistles, which was the only one left in the store, and in my size, and in the sale, and also had 25% off. If that isn't destiny, then what is?

Just look at that... (insert heart eyes emoji here)

I'm in love with it down to the detailing of the little hanger that is actually a chain. Beats a little fabric loop that usually rips.

The weirdest thing you will ever see in a haul type post, but YEP I got a tattoo. It's my first, and despite how terrified I was beforehand, it was pretty exciting. I had it done a few weeks ago, and managed to keep it pretty quiet until it healed.

At least now the title will make sense to you (I hope?)

A Pretty Haul of Sorts...

Technically, this post includes lots of things I haven't paid for, so does this still make it a "haul"? I don't know, but just to clarify, I did not steal them... 

Space NK, meet my currently empty bank account. I LOVE a little Space NK shop, and I needed to stock up on my much-loved Touche Veloutee, which by the way, lasts FOREVER. I also needed a new serum and body lotion, so I got these two Kiehls products for the first time. I'm loving them both so far, and I've never had a lotion that did anything but moisturise, so this is quite a wonder really, details will come in a post soon ;-) 

My Aunty went away to Portugal a couple weeks ago, and despite being offered the chance to go, I was excessively excited to spend two weeks home alone, because, I cannot lie, I love my own company. (I'm so shallow.) She bought me Calvin Klein Euphoria and MAC's Hue lipstick seeing as I didn't go, pretty win-win, if you ask me.

I broke two nails and so them gorgeous long babies I was donning just had to get cut down, I decided to stock up on Avoplex in hope of encouraging a little growth. I'd also had my eye on OPI's Bubble Bath for quite a while, given its a sheer pink (you all know they're my favourite nail polishes now, right?) so whilst placing a cheeky Amazon order, I caved. I also repurchased matte nail envy, which hadn't arrived when I took these.

Favourite mascara ever repurchase, Dior Iconic Overcurl, bought with £15 in Debenhams points. Score! I also bought the Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder and fan brush upon recommendation from the forever flawless Zoe Newlove.

Seriously exciting acquisition in the form of a YSL Blush Radiance palette, and a YSL Glossy Lip Stain that I won from the incredibly lovely Dave Lackie, editor of online beauty magazine, Beauty: The Guide. He has tons of awesome beauty giveaways on Twitter, and even more incredible beauty advice, straight from the experts. I insist you go follow him straight away on @Davelackie.

Following Dixi jewellery on Instagram and Twitter is dangerous for the bank balance, but good for the soul. Last weekend they shared a flash discount with me, for 20% off, so I caved, buying the ever so beautiful and elegant moonstone midi ring, rose gold thumb ring, and rose quartz necklace. Totally gorgeous, right?

Hope you've liked this little post (apologies for the occasional bad quality photo) I will be coming back soon with more posts, given my new laptop will very soon have its presence graced with Photoshop. I cannot wait to be back to posting on a regular basis.

Birthday Gifts and Lots of Pretty Things

There's quite a few pictures in this post, for no other reason than, I got, well, a little camera happy! I thought I'd share with you my birthday gifts, a lot of which were from me, to me. Any excuse!

Oh, and just to clarify, before anyone goes off on one... I'm not bragging in anyway. Some of these are gifts, and some of them I bought for myself. I just love shopping...

One of my favourite jewellery pieces ever, comes from this beautiful, elegant, gold open heart ring by  the Irish jewellery designer, Chupi. My Nan and Grandad bought me this so it means more than it would have if I'd bought it for myself.


The beautiful Chupi ring in action, and with a vintage, ornate rose ring my Aunty got for me. I won't wear these together all the time - just thought I'd save a picture and put them together (I'm so helpful, right?!)

My Aunty bought me this beautiful coffee table book which is currently on display on my shelf, its Audrey Hepburn in Hats, and showcases a beautiful collection of images like the one above. (Isn't she just the epitome of elegance?)

The DVD collection is actually a gift to myself. I've already worked my way through all of these, and love them all so much. I'm currently becoming very much addicted to Audrey, and if you follow me on Instagram, you'll probably already have been bombarded by Audrey related pictures already...

I mentioned in my previous wishlist post I'd like to read The Notebook and my beautiful Aunty bought it for me, alongside Safe Haven, which I haven't seen the movie of yet, so I'll be holding off until I've read the book.

It's not as excessive as it seems- I promise! A lot of these are freebies which I got with various orders, but I decided, after buying my first Chanel polish that I'm very much in love with them and need more. I bought Frenzy in Southport on my actual birthday, and Blue Satin when Debenhams had a sneaky 10% off. I bought my MAC lipsticks at the same time (because of course I needed more...) And as a self-confessed Dior addict, I decided to pick up this gorgeous nude lip colour because I had £10 in points on my Beautyclub card.

They're beautiful, right?
Mac's Pure Zen and Plumful, and Dior Incognito.

(Left to right: Dior Incognito, MAC Pure Zen and Plumful)

Another treat for myself thanks to sales. This beauty was 1/3 off in Argos, and only cost me £20! It comes with a heat proof mat, full glove, and a carry bag to store it all in, not to mention how brilliant it is. I'll be reviewing this soon.

I can't say I usually shop in The Body Shop, but when I heard about the beautifying oils which had come out, I decided to go and pick one up, I use it mainly for my cuticles every evening, but it's a bugger to apply from this bottle! I also picked up a foot cream with the "Buy one get one half price" offer... GLAM.

My "to-read" list is getting ridiculous, but I still had a little stroll into Waterstones and came out with these...

And I had to add this little fella to the end of this post. If you don't follow me on Facebook, or Twitter, you won't know that I'm planning on bringing some nail-art tutorials onto my little corner of the web, so keep an eye out, and no doubt you'll find out how to make this little guy yourself.

And another reminder, my giveaway closes tomorrow, so don't forget to enter! I can't wait to draw the winner, and I'll be letting you know via Twitter, and email!

Hope you've enjoyed this post, and I promise I'll be back with more substantial posts soon, I've been a little bit of a let-down during the summer months.