A trip to town after pay day

I always find I'm the worst after pay day. I seem to think I have all the money in the world and forget I shouldn't be spending. I'm sure it's not just me.

L and I popped into town on Saturday morning bright and early to bag ourselves some Origins freebies. Did any of you ladies pick them up too?

I only intended to really pick them up and a present for my brothers girlfriend. Of course that didn't happen though.

Here are my goodies - 3 Origins moisturisers, Lush Herbalism cleanser, Lush Breath of Fresh Air toner, Mac Lipstick, Fanfare, Bed Head Superstar shampoo, Catwalk Oatmeal & Honey Conditioner and a set of weights.

We had planned to go to town and visit each of the Origins counters. Origins had a great offer on on Saturday if you took back any full size skincare product they would give you a free 30ml moisturiser. No catches they just wanted more people to try there products. I think this is a great way to try a brand. Did any of you pick these up?

I got two of A Perfect World this was the one recommended to us and one Starting Over just to try. These are great natural products free from parabens and lots of other things. We plan to do a full post on Origins soon.

Next came a stroll to the MAC counter. After selling some bits on eBay I decided I deserved a lipstick. I picked up Fanfare, which will appear in a Lipstick Monday post next week and L had managed to save six empties so could pick up a freebie. I also now have £10 on my beauty card so that's going towards next months MAC lipstick. What colour do you recommend next?

My brothers girlfriends birthday is this week and she'd asked for a MAC eyeshadow. After testing some out on my hand I went with Satin Taupe, it was such a gorgeous colour and formulation I think I'm definitely going to have to pick myself up some soon. What's your favourite colour MAC eyeshadow?

A quick trip to lush was needed to pick up my essentials. I walked in there with blinders on and refused to look at anything else. I have a tonne of bubble bath at the moment so as much as I want bubble bars it seems silly to pick them up.

This is probably my all time favourite toner. It works amazing on my skin and really helps prevent it getting to greasy. I find it lasts well too. My last bottle was a Christmas present and has only just run out. I use it twice a day most days. It's great for if I get in from work and feel my skin is greasy a quick spritz and I'm instantly refreshed.

Lastly we popped into TK Maxx. It's great for picking up odd bits and pieces. I love there homeware.

I wanted to pick up some weights so I could start doing my workout dvd. I bought it back in February stuck at it then for 10 days and got brilliant results so really need to get back into it. When I did it in February I was using water bottles as weights. Cheaper but not as effective.

These were only £7.99, I love that they are soft grip weights and at 3lb they will be perfect for with the DVD.

Whilst there L's devil side came over her and she persuaded me to head to the beauty section so I had to pick up a new shampoo and conditioner even though I have just ordered a Moroccan oil set.

With my extensions I've found the high street brands usually contain silicone (usually listed as diemethicone) which at first I thought would be ok to use even though I was told not to. It really has been causing my extensions to slip out though as the product goes under the micro ring. (posts on my extensions and silicone in beauty products). I decided to pick up these as well as the ones I've ordered as they were cheap. The shampoo was also SLS free. Extra bonus there.

I've used both of these prior to writing this post just to give quick thoughts on them. First thing about both products, they both smell amazing, especially the conditioner. I had to mix the ones I got as the conditioner for Superstar shampoo contained silicone and the shampoo for the oatmeal and honey condition contained ammonia laureth sulphate which L informed me was worse than SLS. I find I'm definitely more aware of what chemicals are in the products I use. It makes shopping longer though. I have had bed head products before and really loved them so was pleased to pick them up cheaper in TK Maxx. I will definitely be going back there for more. They are huge bottles and so far definitely seem worth paying the extra for. As an added extra I love the pump tops. They just make it easier.

Have you been purchasing anything this weekend? Have you tried any of the bits I got?

Love M

xxx

Lipstick Monday's Rimmel Diva Red

This is my second lipstick post. I love a red lip. I find I feel so confident when I'm wearing a red lipstick but finding the perfect shade can be tricky.

The Red lipstick needs to be perfect. I also worry about it not looking classy. Let me introduce you to Diva Red. I love the name for starters.

This lipstick is very pigmented and in one swipe you are left with a gorgeous colour. With such a bright lipstick lip liner is a must. The Rimmel one is great with this.

It has a slight pink tone to it which really makes it look lovely on the lips. I always get complimented and asked where it is from when I wear it. I find it lasts a good 5 hours when applied with lip liner. It's also not very drying on the lip, after 5 hours I find a second swipe of lipstick or lipbalm is needed. 


This lipstick retails at £6.29 which is reasonable in my opinion.


A trick my nan taught me, when drinking poke your tongue out a little and you won't get lipstick over everything when you drink. Sounds odd I know.

What's your favourite red shade?

Love M

xxx

Review: Soap and Glory Heel Genius

Another Soap and Glory product. When I opened my Big Splendor I was really pleased to see a foot product. I definitely neglect my feet and should give them more TLC. Now's the time to polish those tootsies so they are ready for flip flop seasons (which I hope will approach quickly).

This is a thick cream that absorbs quickly into the skin. It's slightly minty scented from the menthol which is amazing after a long day as it works to cool the feet. It also contains Macadamia Oil (an amazing moisturiser, which we will be doing a post on the hair oil soon), glycerin, bilberry, orange and lemon fruit acid smoothers so while it has a slight minty smell it's not hugely overpowering.

It's a treatment you use at night. I slap a bit on my feet then put socks on and let it work it's magic while I snooze away. Then you get to wake up to lovely smooth feet. Perfect.

I've not tried many foot creams but this is one I'd repurchase when boots do our favourite 3 for 2 offers.

Have you tried Heel Genius? What's your favourite foot cream?

Love M xxx

I have a few foot creams lurking around my room, mainly unused as admittedly I absolutely hate feet with a passion!

It's not an uncommon hate mainly I suppose due to the overwhelming amount of people that don't take care of their feet, i.e. foot fungus and cracked heels, bleurgh!

I decided one day that however much I hate feet I wouldn't neglect them so they'd turn into the gross types that nobody wants to see....Roll on Christmas and the Big Splendour set!

I was shocked when I first used this cream, its BRIGHT BLUE!

I wasn't expecting that especially after using the Righteous Butter and Hand Food a few minutes before, I was used to the standard white!

However, I absolutely love this product. It smells divine, sinks in pretty quickly considering it's quite a thick cream, and then moisturises your feet whilst you sleep!

I would definitely purchase this again, though I can't imagine I will be running out any time soon as there's loads in the tube and you barely need any of it!

I'm sure M would agree with me when I say that it definitely gets our Stamp of Approval :)

What foot creams do you use? Do you hate feet as much as me?!

L xxx

Boots 3 for 2 Spree!

As usual my alter ego got the better of me when I went shopping the other day.

My aim in Boots was to pick up the Real Techniques brushes whilst they were still on 3 for 2 ( we both got the stippling brush and I also got the blush brush too)

However my evil alter ego dragged me over for 'just a quick look' at the nail varnishes and make up.

Yeah sure.

I spotted the elusive Max Factor Fantasy Fire nail varnish and to be honest I previously thought it wasn't all that. But of course my evil twin loved it, and so did I when I tested it out!

Cue me being head over heels for the mini bottles and I suddenly had 3 in my basket. Naughty.

Fantasy Fire / Pretty in Pink / Silver

The Pretty in Pink is a replacement for a Natural Collection peach colour that I loved but it dried up.

It's a gorgeous pastel colour that will be perfect for spring and summer ahead.

Fantasy Fire was a splurge buy but I'm in love already, got a whole post of this ready to go already!

Silver is a jelly like polish that has a silver effect but is a dirty silver, if you understand me!

I absolutely love 'dirty metallics' as I like to call them.

Perfect for day, night and any occasion in between.

I'm sure there will be posts on all of these soon!

As if my evil alter ego hadn't already distracted me enough, I suddenly found myself with 3 Rimmel items in my basket too!

The Wake Me Up concealer was first in, me and M both loved the Wake Me Up foundation (review here) so the concealer was definitely high on my priority list.

After the amazing Inika blush was given to me by CutECOsmetics in a competition (review here) I've been looking for the perfect orangey lipstick or balm to match.

Coral Queen from Rimmel seems to fit the bill and I'm hoping that it will be a hit in my make up bag!

Lastly I picked up a 1000 Kisses Lip Tint in Perpetual Plum.

I've always been put off by the hype surrounding these and the Revlon Lip Butters etc, but actually the consistency of the tint coming out of the pen at one end and the balm at the other was pretty good in my books.

I was impressed that the tint could be built up, and the balm felt pretty good and moisturising too.

Hopefully another hand bag staple, good job I've bought a new one ;)

Hope you enjoyed the post!

Do you have an evil alter ego who throws things in your basket when you're not looking?? Ha!

L xxx