Saturday is for … shopping

I still feel a bit shy at this business of sharing shopping sprees (small or big) with you but since you responded quite well to my first two ones, I thought you might be wanting to read about this one as well. Funny enough and contrarily to what this blog might show, I don't really like shopping. I like buying nail polishes, makeup and beauty products but I can't stand going for clothes, shoes and outfit accessories. So I postpone it, and postpone it for as long as I can, until the shoes/clothes are totally worn out (or the seams have cracked) before I go shopping for more. I didn't used to be like that. I guess before I went shopping because I am bored but I have seldom found myself bored since blogging.






Anyway, I was in dire need to find some shoes to travel in, comfortable enough for a soon coming week end away, ready to wear, without the need to 'break them in'. I found these from New Look (£24.99 if my memory is correct). They are not your peak of fashion by any means, they look a bit mumsy to be honest but the leather makes them ultra comfortable despite their high-ish wedge. I am not in love with them, but I am desperate for some shoes and these will have to do. I find them a bit chunky and it was this photo of Eva Mendez which persuaded to keep them. Hers are much nicer but it's a bit similar, no? No? ok









Off to TK Maxx to find a basic handbag and I found this 'Sparrow True' one (I have already renamed it 'jack sparrow bag') at half price. I love the beigy/brown colour, the soft material, the size and even the price: £24.99. I rarely spend more than £20 in a handbag, but I am pretty desperate and I am travelling on Friday. I used to have a bag like before, purchased from good old Internacionale, but then I spilt some out of date fruits of the forest Cambridge Diet shake in there and it had to go bag heaven.








Next, still at TK Maxx, I was happy to find these shampoos from Organix. Organix is a brand I've been wanting to try for ages but its price tag (£6.99) has always put me off. Last Saturday they were at £3.99 so they had to come with me. The purple one (acai berry and avocado) is sulfate free and the beige one (vanilla) has got a traditional formula. I will report back if I like them. Had they had the coconut one on offer, I would have probably bought the whole lot.





Last but not least, I wanted to buy a sleek eau la la liner in shade cocoa for my brows but they had run out of them. I wanted to buy the tester but it was all broken inside. So I came home with a lovely Rimmel black/brown pencil. The shade is great: black is too dark, brown is too light. It's genius. Shame it's not waterproof. Again, this will have to do for now and I have a disaster to try to cover up.





I have kept what excites me the most for the end. The minute I saw this limited edition Marks and Spencer lilac nail polish on Emma's blog (Imagination in Colour) I have been longing to buy it and finally it's mine. Swatches and review will follow (edit: swatched here) but now a quick picture of the bottle of this little £3.50 golden lilac wonder.

I hope this hasn't been too boring. I am a bit stressed out with this trip so blog posts might be a bit thin on the ground this week.

Have a lovely week.  xx

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Accessorize Makeup – My little collection & swatches

Ever since I saw a blog post about ‘ultraviolet’ eyeshadow from Accessorize Makeup, I have been really obsessed impatient for the release of the Accessorize makeup line. After lots of frustrating wait  in the dark wait (nobody seemed to have a clue on when and which superdrug shops would stock it) I finally managed to get some bits and wanted to show you my little selection. Was it worth the frustration, twitter outbursts and the wait? Definitely! What a gorgeous brand. 






I had to be extremely good as I could have easily bought all the shadows from the collection but I tried my hardest to buy some ‘unique’ shades. Look at the gorgeous packaging, with the butterfly on it, how can you stay insensitive by its cuteness? The ultraviolet shadow which was the object of my obsession was divine and didn’t disappoint. But I owned a shade of violet by MUA (shade 9) with almost the same vibrant blue iridescence/duochrome effect (should I go ahead and call it a dupe) to it so I had to be sensible and not buy it. In fact while, while I am talking of MUA (see my haul here) I personally found that MUA eyeshadows shade 13 (blackened purple) and shade 5 (acid lime) had their equivalents in Accessorize.

 


Even though I already owned a  the lime green (shade 9)  from MUA,  I just had to purchase ACID LIME from Accessorize: a bit more pigmented, the texture is to die for, soft, velvety but not too soft either and just more fun to work with and doesn’t leave that slightly waxy shiny mark after I used them (that’s the only thing I don’t like about MUA shadows, this shiny waxy indent, other than that, the colour pay off is faultless).  The second shadow I bought is gorgeous, it’s called DENIM and it’s divine.








I also couldn’t resist and I had to buy this pink glitter eyeliner. Despite my huge collection of glitter liners, I didn’t have anything similar in my collection.





And finally, I wanted to show you my little nail polish spree. I wish I could have included some swatches for you, but my nails are in a really bad condition at the moment. So bear with me and watch this space for these :)





 

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Shopping Spree at Girls with Attitude

Absolutely delighted by the DIVA eyelashes by Girls with Attitude (my post here) I couldn’t wait to try other other lashes from the brand. So when Girls with Attitude announced on twitter their special offer (25% off all orders over £10) well, it was a no brainer and it was perfect time to buy some more. I don’t usually do haul videos or blogposts as I find them to be bragging a bit and not as meaningful if they’re not accompanied by a review so this exception to the rule. Besides I am crazy about lashes and I just had to tell you about this offer. I am not by the way affiliated by any way, shape or form with Girls with Attitude. 


So I placed an order for 3 pairs of  lashes. The original amount was £12 but with the reduction I only paid £9 in total, including delivery! All orders placed on the website have free UK postage and they accept payments via Paypal. Finally this offer ends on 11 December.






So , I got a pair of fancy lashes,  crazy lashes and absolutely bonker lashes. We’ll start with the fancy ones, shall we? These are called GLAMOUR. My friend on twitter and blogger Catherine from Perfectly Polished Nails has been raving about them so you bet I just had to give them a go too. 






I love the gradual effect on this to mimic natural lashes. I don’t know if I will find them dramatic enough for my liking (I have zero lashes) and if these lashes are more suited for people who have already some lashes and want to blend their natural ones seamlessly with these babies, but we’ll see and I can’t wait to try them.






Then, we have the STARRY EYED false eyelashes (£3) I chose this from the ‘bargain bucket’ section from the website, well the sale section. I would imagine this model is discontinued. I love the little discs of colours on these but I feel I am going to have to double these lashes with some others to have a fuller lashes look {I love playing with lashes and doubling them up} Incidentally, this packet was soooooo hard to photograph, I kept on seeing my reflection on the mirror case!









And finally (brace yourselves – girls with a sensitive shy nature might want to turn away now) I bought the DRAMATIC COUTURE. These were on sale at £4, instead of the original price of £10. I imagine this is because they have been replaced by a newer version. When am I going to wear this? I haven’t got a clue but fear not, I’ll make sure to photograph them when I wear them! I don’t think these are going to be as nightmarish to put on as the blue feather eyelashes I wore last year (look posted here) but should still score a whopping  5 on the scale of application ease (1 is easy,  5 is difficult) but I do like a challenge and I am stubborn ^_^  So Katie Weasel from the X factor, you think you got the craziest lashes? Bring it on :) haha!

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Makeup Swapping Fun from across the pond

They say the grass is always greener on the other side. I don't know if it is true but I will always be attracted to get makeup I can't get in England.

Conveniently, my lovely twitter friend ashleigh from across the pond in the United States was dying to sample some makeup products from England, to see if they live up to the glorious tales. So a make up swap had to happen.

My 'brown box of amazing' landed today and this is what I had been dying to get my hands on for a while.

1. L'oréal Colour Truth H.I.P Liner in 'Eggplant'. This is a gorgeous cream liner in purpley aubergine colour.
2. L'oréal HIP Bright EyeShadow duo, in flamboyant (538)
3. L'oréal HIP Bright EyeShadow duo, in riotous (328
4. 'Browser' from NYC, eyebrow kit in Brunette
5. 4 Pairs of divine & dramatic Red Cherry Lashes in 102.
and 2 copies of a secret item which I also super excited but that I can't reveal for now. It's complicated :)

Excited does not quite describe it, I am bouncing with joy, like a flea in a shaggy dog and can't wait play with my American goodies. Everything arrived safe, how could they not, all wrapped up in a sea of bubble wrap :P Thank you so so so so much Ashleigh for the swap. Your 'folie blanche' made me chuckle but also go all fuzzy. Will you swap again with me? I hope so, cos this has been so much fun!

My photography skills are very basic. I hope you don’t mind the close up ones below, which I harvested from the web.

So, what other makeup products from America should I get from America next? What products am I seriously missing out on?
Please let me know :) I’m having my eyes on this exclusive limited edition ‘Chowder’ item :P What do you think?

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