Try before you buy featuring NARS and MAC

OK, so I can't pretend that I am the ultimate beauty blogger, or that I am even a beauty blogger at all, however I know what I like and what works for me and after all those are the main two reasons why you should ever invest in expensive makeup or skin care!

We read, we tweet, we hashtag and we like all things beauty and fashion on an array of social media, but do we buy allllll of the beautiful things bloggers advise us to? No. Not that we don't want to of course, it would be impossible to have the make up or fashion collections that they have unless we were all millionaires of course with an amazing walk in wardrobe!

Anyway my point is, paying for all these beauty products can be very expensive so why would you not try before you buy? 

A friend of my mothers once told her that she never pays for foundation, she said she has a collection of foundations and reeled of name after name of the top worldly makeup brands. Dumbfounded and of course intrigued my mum asked more questions. This very respectable woman on every little shopping trip would nip into Debenhams, John Lewis and other beauty halls or shops and repeat the same little rehearsed script.

She would go to every stand and ask if she could have a sample of this foundation or that foundation - she has very sensitive skin and would need to test this product at home when she has nothing planned before she spends £30+ on the foundation. The beauty assistant would eagerly assist her and hand over a skin tone match of foundation! A tester size of around 4ml that could last you around a month depending on how much you wear of course!

Whilst I have a conscience (some would call me stupid) I could not bare face lie to all those innocent sales advisers and just walk around with a load of free 4ml foundation samples. HOWEVER I do think that if you are a genuine beauty guru and want to spend your money on the newest NARS foundation, why should you not test before you buy?

I went to Beauty Bazaar - Harvey Nichols in Liverpool and I asked the girls behind the counter at NARS and MAC if I could have a sample of the 'Studio Fix' foundation and the 'All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation'. They assisted me kindly, matched my skin tone and I was given a 4ml tester of each, that was two weeks ago and having used the NARS foundation in particular everyday I still have at least half left and a full tub of MAC Studio Fix. I would also like to add I could not resist buying the NARS 'Laguna bronzing powder' whilst on my shopping trip which is the best bronzing powder EVER and completely worth every penny!

I personally won't be going to get more samples, as I do not need to. I had every intention of spending my money on MAC Studio Fix, however after all the beauty hype I decided to try the new NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation, and through testing my samples , I've found my absolute perfect foundation match, as soon as my tester is running out I will 100% pay for the full price bottle. 

I used to wear Estee Lauder, 'Double wear' foundation, which over time just felt too thick on my skin, especially whilst traveling Australia and Africa with the heat. This NARS foundation has 100x better coverage than the MAC Studio Fix but genuinely feels as light as tinted moisturiser, I would highly recommend it!

Anyway back to the point! Seriously if you are thinking about mixing up your makeup routine, especially as summer is approaching or winter wherever you are in the world, ask for samples before you buy and really test that makeup out! Wear it on a full makeup day, on a not so much make up day, a gym day, a work day, or any other day for that matter and find your perfect match before you spend! Overall NARS is a winner all around for me, so I leave you to test and find what is right for you!

Thanks for reading and let me know if you have done this before or do this all the time?! I would love to know :), over and out for now...

Elle xxxx        

What I bought last week...

Ive decided that a cool way to keep my content up to date, and so anybody that may be reading can get to know me a little better, my style and have a chat about what you all bought too, I would post a weekly 'What I bought this week'.

I believe that as a fashion blogger with a job and other commitments It would be nice to see in real time what I am buying and why instead of looking like I have access to the worlds most amazing wardrobes! (Which I don't because I am an intern with a serious shopping addiction..)

   

OK, so first things first... If you have previously read my blog, you will see that I wrote a very enthusiastic post about a very beautiful comfy skin tone bra from H&M, within that post i stated something along the lines of ' I must buy the blue and pink one too '.

You will all be glad to see I only bought the blue bra, however I did but the matching bottoms.. I just love this underwear so much!!!!!!!

Now I feel very strongly about these shoes, and I believe that if your first reaction is not WOW then what are you looking at??!! 

I love this style of shoe boot with the open toe and heel, the boots and dresses trend is a huge favorite of mine, however we all get sweaty feet when the sun is out - This style is breathable. I also like to think of myself as having quite a chilled boho style, so of course these boots go with so many of my outfits plus my wardrobe will be hugely expanding this year due to the amazing designers that decided the bohemian/Coachella style and 70s fashion is back!!

I would also like to add that these are so comfortable.. The last pair of heels I bought were Kurt Geiger and cost around £100 and are the comfiest heels EVER but they cost a lot of money and if they were not comfortable I would not have been very happy.. However the pair above cost £12.70 incl delivery.. No they are not 'chepo' shoes they were 70% off your first purchase! 

I am in love..
That's all for last week, however this week I have already succumbed to the white jeans trend and got the cutest little skirt from primark... cant wait to show you!

Elle x

Bloom and Wild

 

On this dreary Saturday morning, the postman knocked at around 9:30am, passing a parcel through the door with a huge grin on his face.

This is our second subscription box from Bloom & Wild, I say ‘our’, however I actually mean for my mum.

I heard about Bloom and Wild through a fellow blogger and at the time, I thought what a lovely idea, although as a monthly subscription of £15 it was a little expensive. You can just go to Tesco and buy yourself or your mum some flowers for £5 if you really wanted to… If you remembered of course.

I will be honest I was panicking last minute for my mum’s birthday present until I remembered Bloom & Wild. I decided to do a quick research on them, what the deal was with the monthly subscription, was it different flowers every month, could you choose the flowers etc. etc. I will be honest, I am a real sucker for a beautiful website and marketing of products. I fall for the tricks and word play that I have used myself in my career, I just cant help it, I’m not gullible, just a tad naïve (singing the Kooks ‘naïve’ to myself now…), I like to think the best of everybody and everything. I am just an optimistic person. 

 

Anyway that’s me making excuses for the fact that not only am I currently working as a unpaid intern I signed up to pay £15 a month within seconds of looking through the Bloom & Wild website… Stupid I know, however the joy and quality of the flowers received is totally worth it! I should mention, you could pause your subscription whenever you want to! Yes, stop and start your monthly subscription. You simply cannot afford it this month? Fine, pause it! Fantastic for people like me with a low income!

The first bunch of flowers arrived on a much sunnier Saturday the11^th of April, the day after my mum’s birthday. She did not know they were coming and opened the box before reading the card with caring instructions for the flowers but more importantly the little note I had written to go with them, a little personal touch idea given at the online checkout. I played along VERY excited myself to see if it was worth it and it SO was. The long box, shaped perfectly to fit through your letterbox, (we do not have a letterbox… told you I don’t think things through).

Inside the flowers are wrapped with spotted transparent cellophane, tied with a piece of gold ribbon. Each pale pink rose was surrounded with a white elasticated netting, keeping every rose perfectly formed and protected. A gift.
  

The roses lasted three and a half weeks, with the proper care of course. Proving that you get what you pay for, not only is the packaging beautiful and special the quality of flowers is outstanding. I would recommend anybody to subscribe to Bloom & Wild, cheer yourself up or someone you love instantly. Not to mention adding a little something extra to your home. A real treat!!

 

  

Taking you back to present day, the second box arrived this morning, this time my mum knew what it was and beamed with excitement walking into the living room! I also jumped up like it was Christmas morning, which led me to say ‘our’ box earlier… Wrapped the same, just like a gift, this morning’s flowers are a bouquet mix, designed especially to celebrate the birth of our newest member of the Royal Family, Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana Windsor of Cambridge. 

   

Both of us genuinely forgot to expect this package, a great start to the weekend. I now believe that the £15 monthly subscription is not too bad, the quality of the flowers, the packaging, the delivery all included in that one £15 is great value for money. You do not have to remember to buy them, they come wrapped like a gift a delivery straight to your chosen person’s door. I would pay much more in any florist for this service and no matter what I will be putting money aside for this every month. An awesome start to the weekend I’d say!
 

 

Another successful last minute decision, cant wait for next months box!!

Have a great weekend,

Elle xxx

April Favourites! From bedding to TV shows..

 

Its time to get together the things I have loved this April! Everything from what I have been watching, buying, reading, and wearing!

 

Primark Backpack

Starting with this Primark backpack, I never thought I would really be a backpack gal until I saw this one.

Now the thing is, with Primark, If you are going to try out a new style and leap into a trend you never thought you’d leap in to, then Primark is the place to go. Instead of buying a £60+ real leather backpack, because it happens to be in trend (but makes you feel like a 12 year old going to school) your paying £15 MAX in Primark, allowing yourself to experiment without going bankrupt!

I experimented and loved it AND I do not plan to swap my cheapo for anything longer lasting any time soon! I have honestly used this bag every day since I got it, and every day since I bought it, it has carried my mac book pro 13inch, to and from work (and we all know how heavy a steel laptop is!). Having carried makeup, books, and everything you need on a daily basis and quite frankly, it is doing bloody well for £10! Whilst we are praising this lovely great sized, sturdy bag, I love plain accessories that you can just grab and go. I love the metal detailing on the flap and well I just love it! (Can you tell?)

Ray-Ban Clubmaster

OK so these beautiful sunglasses wont be anything new to some of you out there BUT to me, they are the first symbol of farther daughter trust! This is a huge deal, because at 25 my farther finally has trust and believes in me to have something nice that I wont loose or break. (Another reason I shop in Primark)

Having bought countless pairs of fake ray bans in my time, all of which different styles, it took me a while to make the decision between the small framed aviators or the clubmaster’s. In the end, my mother told me I looked like a droopy sad dog with aviators on… (I just wanted to be Tom Cruise in TopGun)

The clubmaster’s it was! I got the 49mm frame, gold, and tortoise shell.

 

Glamour May 2015

Having not bought a magazine in a while, I was pleasantly surprised when my mum came home with the new amazing smelling Glamour hot off the press, one Saturday morning, I was even more pleasantly surprised with Anna Kendrick on the front!

I love Glamour anyway; it has always been my go to magazine since I can remember, filled with everything you need to know! Therefore, I really enjoyed the interview with Anna Kendrick, I loved the layout, ‘number of reasons to love AK’, and I really enjoyed reading the casual banter and quirk that is Anna, feeling as though I was in the room having great fun too! Highlighted (and shown below) was my favorite quote of the piece (mainly because it is 100% me with my friends) and I would say if you have not read it, well then you need to!

 

 

Kiehl’s – Nashi Blossom & Pink Grapefruit

There really is not much to write about this aromatic mist, It was given as a present and initially something I probably would not buy for myself as I don’t splurge on perfume’s or skin care treats, however I love this. Perfect for spring, so fresh and light with a tinge of sweetness. A great gift, a new go to scent.

Simple – Micellar cleansing water

I have never used cleanser or toner, I am very lazy, and use baby wipes only to take my makeup off. That is until I bought this!

As you can see from the bottle in the picture, there is nothing left, this ‘water’ takes everything off and I mean EVERYTHING, and it still just feels like water. I would honestly drink it if I were stuck in the Sahara a desert…

I also use this when I wake up in the morning or when I am having a no make up day, just to refresh my skin and feel alive again. I honestly do not know how I have ever lived without it.

Micellar water link 

 

 

Primark – Bedding

I know I keep saying ‘I love’ a lot but this Is my April favorites and I LOVE this bedding! I am I back in Byron Bay on Australia’s east coast?! I sure feel like I am! A double-sided double duvet with TWO pillows for £11, I am sorry but why would I shop anywhere else? I will be doing an extra special bedroom tour/post with this bedding!

 

L’Oreal lip liner and lipstick

OK, I am not jumping on the bandwagon here; Kylie Jenner can keep her nude big lips. I am talking natural here ladies, Au Naturel.

I have big lips, not huge but not small either, some would say blessed some would not. Because I have a fuller lip I have never liked bright colour’s on me, the brighter the colour the bigger the lip and I just feel self conscious that my bright red lipstick is all anyone can see on my face! (That and it is probably all over my teeth!)

I literally never buy lipstick or lip liner for this reason but when I came across these two it was worth a try! Again buying a cheaper product to test out my ‘leap’ before I go and buy a MAC lipstick.

The lipstick is matte, which I prefer (if you keep your lips exfoliated) and it gives me just the right amount of colour. I do not look washed out anymore from my yellow toned/half tanned skin yet I do not feel as though my lips are huge!

The Lip liner, may I add my first ever bought lip liner at 25, is a tone darker than my natural lip colour. I have literally worn this EVERYDAY, every single day since I bought it. I either colour my whole lip in or I line my lips strongly (not going five millimeters from my actual lip line..) then softly lining them again on the inside of the first outline. I simply blend with my finger until my desired look (which is a prominent outline without looking like I have anything on) and I then add a tiny bit of Vaseline or sometimes nothing and actually without knowing I have created a ombre lip!

 

 

 

The Royals

If you want a real binge TV show that you can eat Easter eggs too and feel remotely cool then this is the show for you! (Yes I still have Easter eggs…)

Prince Liam played by William Moseley, aka Pete Pevensie in The Chronicles of Narnia, is a total dream and his twin sister Princess Eleanor played by Alexandra Park from Home and Away plays a complicated misunderstood princess with a real heart. There is love, drama, posh accents, a palace, a twisted look at the British monarchy and our government, private planes, hot body guards, fashion shows and Joan Collins as the queens mother! Amazinggggg…

 

Thank you for reading my April favorites let me know if you buy, read or watch any of suggestions!

Elle x