Spending Ban Update 9

The spending ban is very nearing the end, it's completely changed me. Even though I want things I have developed some will power (ignore last week's post where will power disappeared for a brief moment haha). I've stopped buying make up it seems. I'm so proud of this. I am now keeping my empties and I don't seem to be using much of it. I think even when the ban ends I really need to resist buying any more foundation, primer or mascara for a while. A girl always needs more lipstick though right.

First things first I did break the ban twice this week. One thing was absolutely necessary. It was this black dress from Asos. Unfortunately my mum's auntie passed away last week so I needed something long and plain suitable for a funeral. It was only £16.50 and it will be great for work after.

Secondly I went bridesmaid shopping with one of my friends for her wedding. I had decided I wanted to look my best while shopping and decided to do my make up how I may wear it on the wedding day. This involved individual lashes which I didn't own. As in Boots it's 3 for 2 at the moment it seemed silly to just buy the lashes. So I also picked up a Revlon Nail Varnish and the False nails I always use. (shown in this post).

The nail varnish is so gorgeous!! I love all the colours in it.

I will be adding on a few extra weeks to make up for my breaks. I'm thinking maybe I'll go till July. We will see.

How are your bans going?

Love M

xxx

Review: Smashbox Jet Set Waterproof Eye Liner and Brush

Hello all!

I hope your weekend has started well.

I'm actually going to a hen weekend of the first of my friends to be getting married, so I'm sat at home writing this on a Friday night whilst surrounded by all manner of shoes, dresses and make up!

My bag is bulging and I haven't even begun with the accessories and make up eek!

A few weeks ago I picked up this beauty from the Cosmetics Company Outlet in Swindon.

If you've never been to one of those shops then I seriously recommend it, owned by Estee Lauder it has an array of Mac, Bobbi Brown, Clinique, Estee Lauder, Smashbox, Ojon and Origins amongst others for you to get your product greedy mitts on just like me for a discounted price!

I personally spend a rather generous sum and I hope one day to own the whole shop.

I was lucky enough to buy Smashbox's infamous waterproof eye liner along with the matching brush (Arced Liner Brush #21) to use together and I have to say, I'm completely converted to using the brush!

I obviously bought the liner in black, there were other colours present but wanting to get the best value and check out the product first I bought it in black for maximum wear.

The brush you can see below is really thin and has quite long hairs matched with an angled tip making it easier to line your eyes without your arms getting in the way and stopping you from being able to see....wicked!

I'd never used a brush like this so was a bit suspicious but I've been told multiple times how amazing they are so just caved and snapped it up!

I like that the brushes are bright red making them easy to find in amongst the darker packaging of my other make up. I like things to be kept simple but this is massively helpful at 6am!

The design of the pot is pretty bog standard, glass pot with screw on lid, nothing too out there!

Look at the pot of smoothness!

It's so creamy and easy to apply I cannot say a bad thing about it.

This cost me £11 at CCO but normally retails for £16.

I wouldn't spend £16 on a gel eyeliner as I know that Maybelline's is rather good and I am quite a big fan of it, and couldn't justify spending the extra £10 on something that although is amazing, isn't £10 amazing.

However for an extra £5 I think this liner is worth every penny!

It's so creamy and easy to apply, easy to mop up mistakes (as long as your quick!) and stays put all day whether wind, rain or shine.

Even at the end of the day however it swipes off with a tiny bit of make up remover and requires no rubbing.

It's just like the Maybelline one which was my first love, but better.

I'd definitely pick this up again from CCO!

Here's a few pictures of it working it's magic...:

The one below shows me without mascara so you can see the liner better.

I did edit it on my phone, but as black is black it hasn't edited the colour at all.

The one below has mascara on the top lid, and shows a bigger flick.

The brush makes it so easy to do these neatly and quickly and only requires a baby wipe to clean off during the week!

What do you think of the gel eye liner? Are you a fan of them?

What other Smashbox products have you tried?
This was one of my first and I've loved it!

L xxx

Nails Inc: The Edit

Christmas seems like yesterday right?

I was just thinking about it the other day and couldn't believe it when I realised it was a whole 3 months ago.

It's my favourite time of year and it definitely went by in a flash, can't we have it again in July??

One of my Christmas presents was this really cute nail polish set from Nails Inc.

As you can see it's called 'The Edit' and I absolutely love the colours they've chosen.

Even though this was brought out in time for Christmas the colours can be worn all year round and I'm such a big fan!

There are five polishes in total, the names of which are shown below on the back of the box with a description next to them.

I'd had my eye on Porchester Square for a while as lots of people had raved over the colour and formula and also that the tone of it seemed to suit everyone's skin tone making it one of the perfect nudes! I couldn't wait to try this one out.

Also present was a holographic polish which was interesting to me as I'd never owned one of these nore seen any anywhere else so this was also one I wanted to try over the party season.

Tate and Richmond Terrace are both beautiful classic reds that are a must in anyone collection and I really think you can never have enough! (If you look in my collection I'd definitely say I can't...)

Lastly the one I most pleased to receive was Notting Hill Gate. I'd owned Shoreditch from Nails Inc for a few years and used it until it died a very dry death and nothing would come out of the bottle any longer.

I've since been aiming to get a replacement and this one is similar enough for my tastes. 

I absolutely love bright pinks as they're perfect for most occasions and go perfectly with my skin tone for fingers and toes.

As the nude and the pink were ones I was most excited about....here's my latest NOTD with both colours, what do you think??

My nails are a little battered as this was after work so my hands are cuts and the nails a tiny bit chipped but nevertheless you can see the idea!

Me and M both love an accent nail and i love to keep it simple with nudes and then a flash of neon colour.

Out of this set I would 100% buy these two colours again as they both fill gaps in my collection and I can see myself using them a lot.

In fact my toes are painted with the pink right now!

I don't see this small bottle lasting me very long...

Here's a picture of all the colours painted onto nails:

How gorgeous are they??

I love trying out new colours and think miniature kits like this are brilliant to try them out and also to have if you need to do your nails on the go. Taking smaller bottles with you is so much easier to change your manicure in a rush than lugging your whole collection!

Unfortunately the set seems to have been a Christmas exclusive as it is sold out everywhere I've looked. But you can pick up each shade individually and I'd recommend them all.

What other sets have you tried? What's your favourite Nails Inc colour?

Black Taxi is a personal favourite but Notting Hill Gate and Porchester Square might come in close. It's so hard to choose, so I generally just buy them all!

L xxx

Forever 21: My First Purchases

Gooood morning!

Only 2 days left until the weekend so I will be cranking up the music to get me through the day ;)

A few weeks ago I went to Birmingham for the first time and absolutely loved it.

I'd never been to the Bullring Shopping Centre and was absolutely blown away by how big it was and how many shops there were.

Including Selfridges (which was a lush surprise for me!) it has pretty much every shop you could ever hope to go in and I have already bribed M that we need to go for a serious shopping day ASAP!!

Whilst I was there a small (!) wander in Forever 21 meant that I picked up a few new items for my wardrobe and jewellery collection, as you do.

I must have tried on about 35 items and genuinely couldnt carry them all by the end!

They have such a wide variety of clothes in multiple colours and it left me wishing that it was sunny outside instead of pouring with rain. The bright pastels and neons that basically took over the store definitely lifted my mood a few notches and that was before I'd even found the accessories!

So here's what I picked up, starting off with the beeeeautiful jewellery hence the hearts!

(I took these on my phone....sorry if they come out a bit awful!)





First up the bangles....I love gold and black and cream so these were winners for me.
There were loads available in different patterns and I would have picked them all up if I could have!
They were all so wearable and pretty but would go with anything....bracelets SOLD.



I am neither a big fan of earrings or rings. I'm probably the kind of person who will when engaged/married (when?/if?) will freak out at the thought of wearing the same rings all the time.
I find them uncomfortable and they get in the way, also I couldn't decide on gold or white gold either!

However this ring has 'me' written all over it and I liked the thought of literally having 'studded' ears so snapped them at the perfect price of £3 each....earrings and ring SOLD.



Lastly were my primary finds in the accessory department and the whole reason for me buying an entire new set of jewellery.
The necklace is bold, statement like and pretty all at the same time. It's enough bling to catch your eye but not enough to blind you, I've seen a few similar at varying lengths but this was the best so far. It was also only £7 so a lot cheaper than others I'd seen.
The bangle was also another I couldn't leave alone and at this point was in a frenzy, of course it went straight into my basket! Necklace and bangle....SOLD.

I also picked up some tops as I couldn't resist the prices.

These were all under £12, with the black and cream top only £7.25 not even in the sale!

They're so wearable and the orange cardigan just seems to go with everything. It's so soft and washes really well so I'm half tempted to order off their website.
We don't have a Forever 21 in Cardiff or anywhere near (that I know of?) so it was great to finally go in and have a browse and I'd be a lot more likely to buy off their website now too!

I fell in love with so many items I can't wait to make another trip there. They have the perfect summer clothes and even if we don't get the weather there are still some luscious clothes to brighten up a rainy day.

What do you think of Forever 21?? Have you picked up some bargains there too?

I thought I'd died and gone to heaven in the accessories department!

L xxx