Top Brands on a Budget!

Recently I seem to have picked up a few beauty bargains whilst out shopping which have given me that buzz of finding a top brand yet not blowing ridiculous amounts of money! Don't get me wrong, I love make up and experimenting with different brands, however I can't justify spending the majority of my hard earned wages on new make up every month! So I have put together some of the top brand bargains that I have bagged recently and some top tips to help those of you who, like me want to get your make up fix without feeling guilty! 

Benefit Bargains!

This month I went to the Benefit counter in Debenhams to pick up a new Roller Lash mascara as I had ran out. Expecting to part with around £20, I was pleasently surprised when the lady at the counter informed me that it was Roller Lash's first birthday and so with every pirchase of the mascara, you get a free goodie bag! This contained the full size mascara which I was intending to buy anyway, plus a mini version (so cute!), a mini Porefessional and a tester of Air Patrol eye primer, all for £19.50! And it all came in a cute little Benefit bag (bonus!)

Top tip: follow all of your favourite beauty brands on social media as this is often the place where they advertise their special offers so that you don't miss out! The goodie bags are sadly no longer available but the free mini Roller Lash with a full size one is still available for £19.50 on feelyounique.com in the 'Free Rollin' pack.

Sephora! (heart eyes)

Whilst on holiday in New York in the summer I was super excited when I went on my first trip to a Sephora store! This was one of the bargains I picked up by the till in the minis section. The lip shaped box just caught my eye! It contains 5 mini sized favourites plus a full sized lipstick, all for $25 (about £15.) Considering the full sized Tarte lipstick was $17 in store, I'd say this kit was amazing value for money!

Above:

Marc Jabobs lipstick - Je'taime

Fresh Sugar Rose tinted lip treatment (with SPF 15)

Make Up Forever lipgloss - (no name but a gorgeous peachy pink)

Kat Von D liquid lipstick - Lolita (Seriously my FAVOURITE EVERRRRR lip product!!!!)

Sephora lipgloss - Peony

Tarte lipstick - Coral Blossom (full size.)

Duty Free Goodies!

The airport is always a great way to save on beauty products by taking advantage of the duty free! On a recent trip to Dublin I picked up the Urban Decay Smokey pallet which I have had my eye on for so long! This cost me around 37 Euro (approx £30)  in Dublin Airport compared to the  £40 normal price tag.

It's not just the airport where you can pick up top brands for less, don't forget to read the in flight magazines where airlines advertise their beauty products which are also tax free! I got the full size Benefit 'They're Real' mascara on a flight home from Prague for £12 instead of the usual £19.50 you would pay from Boots/Debenhams!

High Street Stores Vs Drug Stores!

Instead of heading straight to the usual drugstores like Boots and Superdrug for make up, check out stores such as Savers and Wilkos who also surprisingly have make up counters! I picked up these Tanya Burr lashes for around £3 in Savers, who as well as Wilkos often have a deal on Rimmel products where they are all £5 and under! That's crazy savings for someone like me who used to head straight to Boots for my Rimmel make up!

Another shop to look out for is TJ Huges. I've noticed that they recently stock Real Techniques brushes for less than the average price, so I know where I'll be heading when I need to stock up on make up brushes/sponges!

#Travelpost Whats in my hand luggage? - Longhaul Flights

So last month, me and my family went on an amazing trip to New York. Whilst I was packing my carry on bag, I thought it would be useful to write a post about what I take in my hand luggage for a long haul flight. I'm one of those people who like to take everything with me when I travel and as this was a long haul flight, I was given a 10kg allowance which allowed me to pack everything I needed to keep me relaxed and entertained for seven hours...

I used this huge tote bag from Forever 21 as it literally fits everrrrything in. I also put in a little make up/toiletry bag to keep some bits and bobs separate. I picked this little cutie up from Primark for about £3.

Of course there are limitations on what liquids you can bring in hand luggage so make sure to double check with your particular airline. You're normally allowed ten 100ml products displayed in a sealed, see through bag. I had one of these bags to hand whilst I was packing so I pre packed to save me from rummaging through my bag in the airport security queue!

These are my holy grail liquid products for a long haul flight, of course they are all under 100ml. Don't forget any make up products such as lipsticks/lipbalms/creamy products all count as liquids too.

Mini Nivea deodorant - To keep fresh.

Nivea Rich Moisturising Cream - Skin gets so dry in the air so I smother this on my face to stop my skin from drying out.

The Body Shop Hand Sanitiser - Planes are germy so apply this often!

The Body Shop Deep Sleep Spray - I am obsessed with this! Spray a little of this on your self, pillow or blanket to help you drift off to sleep. It is infused with chamomile so is instantly relaxing which is particularly great if you are a nervous flyer!

Sudocrem - A handy little product as it basically fixes anything!

The Body Shop Hand Cream - Protect your hands from drying out as well as your face.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - To touch up tired skin before you land.

Vaseline - Protect your lips from the dry air in the cabin.

I like to keep these things handy in a separate bag so I can easily reach for them throughout the flight. 

Mini First Aid Kit - This is filled with handy things like plasters, medi wipes etc just in case! Call me over prepared haha...

Make Up Wipes - I hate wearing make up on planes so I always make sure I have these in my bag to cleanse my face before putting on my moisturiser.

Tissues, any tablets you may need, hair bits and bobs, a mini mirror and a hair brush - pretty self explanatory really!

I don't mind flying but I do get extremely bored! So I make sure I pack enough things to entertain me...

Ipad Mini - I'd be totally lost without this! I pre downloaded a few shows such as Made in Chelsea LA and Educating Cardiff to kill a few hours!

Earphones/earphone splittler/power bar - 3 essential little things that allow me and my mum to watch shows at the same time and to keep my ipad alive!

Books - I always bring a reading book to start on the plane and this time I also picked up an adult colouring book which is also meant to help relax you. Of course I needed some colouring pencils for this! I also brought a mini note pad which is always quite handy.

Probably the most important things in my travel bag - travel documents! As I travel the most often in my family, I was trusted to be lead passenger - no pressure! Be sure to print off all necessary paper work - boarding passes, visa details, hotel receipt and of course have your passports! This adorable little passport case is from asos and I loveeee it! I also have my travel money in an envelope. As I am OCD about travelling, I pop them all together in a folder and add postits for easy access! Little tip if you are flying to America - ensure you have the exact address of your hotel as you will need to present this at some point at the airport for visa purposes.

Snacks! I always get hungry when I'm flying so I make sure I pop in a few snacks to keep me going, and chewing gum for the ear popping! I normally bring a sandwich too in case I hate the in flight meals!

My final essentials are an eye mask as I cannot sleep without one on a plane, and this is much cuter than ones they sometimes give out haha! 
A neck pillow which I spray with my Deep Sleep Spray, and flight socks to protect my pins!

And that's everything! (Yes my bag was pretty heavy!)
I hope this was useful to someone, let me know what essentials you bring when you fly long haul. I will also be doing a similar post for packing for short haul flights for a mini break I am going on to Dublin very soon so check back for that!

- Love Katy.

L'oreal Casting Sunkissed Jelly and Preference Glam Bronde Highlights Review!

Naturally I am a medium brown hair colour but in summer I always have the desire to go lighter! I however, hate going to the hairdressers and simply after being on a student budget for the past three years, I never want to spend a fortune on dying my hair when I can do it myself at home! I am no hair expert whatsoever, but I have been dying my own hair since I was sixteen (I'm 21 now) and have tried red, plum, auburn, black and dark brown, testing out most of the branded hair dyes on the Superdrug shelves! 

Quest for summer hair...

In my quest to go lighter this summer I thought I would firstly use the L'OREAL Casting Sunkissed Jelly as it is such a simple concept and I had used it last summer and really liked it. I covered my dry hair with the jelly and left it in - simple! The instructions suggest sitting out in the sun or using a hair dryer to activate the ingredients with the heat so I blow dried my hair, put it up in a bun and left it in over night. The next day I washed and dried my hair as normal and I could tell my hair already looked a little lighter, just a subtle hint as if I had been out in the sun. 

My hair beforehand, medium brown with red undertones.

After using the Sunkissed Jelly, a natural looking hint of blonde! (excuse the bare face!)

The product suggests only using on hair that has never been dyed and that is a shade between blonde -dark blonde. As you can see, I am neither of those things! But I thought I'd give it a go anyway as I thought it would provide me with a nice base to carry on my lightening experiment, which it did. Overall I would definitely recommend the product if you are around medium brown or lighter as it does give you a lovely subtle sunkissed look, and basically does what it says on the bottle! Of course, if your hair is naturally blonde, the results will be more visable. It is around £5.99 for a 100ml bottle and does say you can use it a number of times, however if you have shoulder length hair or longer, you are going to use the whole bottle in one go for sure. So bare that in mind in case you get half way through using it and run out! This comes in 3 different shades depending on what your base hair colour is, and can be used as an all over lightener, on strands for highlights or on the ends of hair to achieve an ombre effect. This is a great product to use on holiday too! Simply leave it on whilst you are sunbathing and wash out later on! 

Phase 2...

Moving on to the L'oreal Paris Preference Glam Bronde. I seen this advertise at the start of summer and was intrigued by the 'bronde' phrase! So I ordered a box online (well 2 by accident! So if anyone wants to buy an unopened box in shade 02 for blonde hair for £2.50 leave me a comment!) Anyways, I bought shade 03, again for dark blondes/light brown which was around £6.00 from Boots. This advertises as being an easy way to lighten your hair at home, and the concept of using the professional highlighter brush included is easy, however when you actually come to use it, it's not as simple as it looks! 

The instructions are easy to follow, as you basically mix up the applicator and bleach sachet, pour an even strip of the mix on each part of the brush and lightly brush down starting from the roots, all the way to the tip in the sections where you want to highlight. The first thing I noticed about using this is that it smells reaaaally strong! But this was no surprise as it is bleach! I soon got the hang of using the brush but felt it left it a bit streaky as some parts of the strip of hair got more product than others. After I had applied the mix on the areas I wanted highlighting, I left it on for around 30 mins (instructions say 25-45 mins depending on desired outcome). I then simply washed the bleach out with just water, then used the L'oreal shampoo included to cleanse my hair. After drying my hair I freaked out a bit as there were some chunks of hair that were quite blonde, however this was down either me using the brush heavy handedly, or the brush just being pretty crap! However, I just blended the hair into my layers when I styled it so it wasn't obvious, and I was more than happy with the rest of the highlights!

This is the result of the highlighter after a few washes, a light brown, with some blonder streaks.

A week or so after using this product, I went on holiday and so lots of sun + my freshly highlighted hair = free extra highlights from the sun rays! This made my hair much lighter which I was really happy about as people started to notice my highlights more and so the result of the L'oreal product was heightened by the sun. The lighting on these pics made me a little ghostly...

Overall I would recommend this product as an alternative for spending a fortune on highlights at the hairdressers. Obviously my end result isn't as professional or blended as well as it would have been if done by a hairdresser, even though when I got my hair trimmed my hair dresser said i'd done a good job ;) I'd sugest getting someone to help you with applying the product as the brush is tricky to work with, but you do (kind of) get the hang of it. Check out the different shades on the boots website here:

http://www.boots.com/en/LOreal-Preference-Glam-Highlights-N1_1506277/

http://www.boots.com/en/LOreal-Preference-Glam-Bronde-02_1506273/

(PS. this is the one I have for sale)

http://www.boots.com/en/LOreal-Preference-Glam-Bronde-03_1506275/

(This is the shade I used)

I had my hair the colour in the image above for the majority of the summer, however I do get bored easily and have recently returned to a dark brown. Although 'bronde' could be on the cards again for next summer...

Current hair colour ^

I hope you enjoyed this long (and somewhat rambly) review of both products, feel free to leave me any further questions if you are thinking about trying either.

-Love Katy.

Summer Beauty Essentials

Since the summer is coming to an end soon (Sob!) I have gathered together the products that I have been loving over the summer months, both new and holy grail beauty items that I reach for in my favourite season...

Skin Care

 1. Simple Illuminating Radiance Cream (£6.99) - I used this a lot when I was out and about on holiday when it was too hot and sweaty to wear foundation or a BB cream. The tiny light reflecting particles really wake the face up and gave me a subtle, shimmery summer glow! This is also perfect to wear under an illuminating foundation such as Rimmel Wake Me Up, and it also contains SPF 15 - bonus! 

2. Garnier Summer Body Gradual Tan Moisturiser (£4.99) - I seriously have bottles of this stuff in my room! This is a product I have been repurchasing for years now and I use it every summer without fail! I have never been a fake tan kind of girl but I love how healthy and glowy my skin looks when I have a tan. This product is a great alternative for self tanners or spray tans, and a lot less messy! I use the 'deep sun kissed look' but there is also a lighter shade. Before applying I make sure I exfoliate my skin (see product 3 below) and use it all over my body as I would apply a normal moisturiser. I apply this every other day to keep my tan looking natural, although you can use it daily. I also love the apricot scent of this - It's basically summer in a bottle! 

3. Boots Extracts Mango Sugar Scrub (£6.00) - I tend to use this scrub to exfoliate once a week which leaves my skin feeling fresh and smooth and ready for my Garnier tanner! I love the mango scent and my skin always feels moisturised after using this product and it lasts ages! This retails for around £6.00 in Boots, however I got mine in a set with mango body wash and body butter for £5.00 a few months ago in a Boots sale! (Biggest bargain ever?!)

4. Olay Everyday Sunshine Face Moisturising Cream (£5.00) - I don't use my Garnier Summer Body on my face as I don't think it's meant for that, so in order to keep my face colour matched to my body I use this little gem! I normally use this before I go to bed as even though it is a light weight moisturiser, I find it too greasy to wear under make up, but when I wake up, my face is looking healthy and sun kissed! 

5. Maybelline Baby Lips Intense Care (£2.99) - When thinking about skin care, lips often get over looked, even though they are just as important and need extra protection in the summer! I am obsessed with lip balms and my lips are often the first part of me to burn in the sun so I always carry one in my bag that contains SPF to prevent my lips from burning, chapping or drying out. 

6. Alberto Balsm Coconut Conditioner (£1.00) - Conditioners and I have never really got on! I gave up using them as most of them made my hair greasy instead of soft and shiny! I used to only use conditioner when I was on holiday to untangle my hair from salt water and chlorine, however I have been using this all summer and it leaves my hair looking healthy, silky and best of all not greasy! I am obsessed with coconut scents so I think this smells DELICIOUS and it always reminds me of being on holiday! And for a pound, you can even afford to leave it in the hotel room if like me you are over the luggage weight allowance, and just buy another one when you get home! 

7. The Body Shop Pink Grapefruit Body Mist (£6.99) - I bought this as an alternative to wearing perfumes (yep, every perfume I own is a Taylor Swift one!) I love the light and fruity, scent and it was lovely to spritz this over my skin when I was on holiday as it just smells so summary!

Make up

8. Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge (£5.99) - I own a lot of Real Techniques make up brushes but let me tell you, this cheaper version of a Beauty Blender has totally changed the way I apply make up! This product was new to me this summer and I just love the way it makes my make up look more flawless! I dampen the sponge before use and I've also noticed it makes me use less foundation which has been great for summer as my skin hasn't been weighed down by heavily applied foundation. It also seems to set my make up for longer throughout the day. I would seriously urge you to give this a go before spending a fortune on various make up brushes, it definitely surprised me!

9. Sleek Contour Kit (£6.49) - I heard great things about this kit and decided to use it to try out the contouring trend that everyone is obsessed with right now!  Although I am pretty awful at contouring, this kit is perfect for it as the bronzer is nicely pigmented and easy to build up. I use the shade 'light' but there are a range of shades to choose from. The highlight is quite subtle and definitely not my favourite part of the kit but it works well on the brow bone and cupids bow. I used this product a lot for my evening looks on holiday as it complimented my tan perfectly!

10. Maybelline 7 Day Super Stay Nail Varnish in 'Mint for Life' (£2.49) - I've lost count of the number of nail varnishes I own but I couldn't resist this gorgeous pastel mint green! I loveeeee pastel colours and this shade looks so gorgeous with a tan. I've found it really does last a while without chipping too! Maybe not a full 7 days, but definitely longer than most drug store nail varnishes!

11 & 12. Rimmel Kate Moss Nude Lipsticks Shades 43 and 45 (£5.49) - I have been wearing these lipsticks since they were released this summer and I love them! Shade 43 is more of a browny nude and shade 45 a pinky nude (scroll down for swatches). I love a nude lip in summer to go with a glowy, lighter make up look and these lipsticks are perfect to achieve that, as well as being totally moisturising for the lips which I love! I think there is about six nude shades in this range and I will definitely be purchasing some more! If like me you don't like a bold lip for your everyday daytime look, these nude shades are a subtle hint of colour to give your make up a more put together look without being the focus of the face - perfect if you like to keep the focus on your eye make up too!

13. Revlon Colourstay Foundation (£12.99) - I'd heard good things about this foundation so decided to pick it up with a Boots gift card I had and I'm really pleased I did. Its a matte coverage and covers blemishes well without feeling too heavy on the skin. It blends really well with my Real Techniques sponge too! The only negative is that there is no pump on the bottle so I find I waste a lot which is annoying!

14. Boots Natural Collection White Eyeliner Pencil (£1.99) - This eyeliner has been a serious game changer for me, make up wise! I have been wearing this on my water line all summer and I just love the way it instantly opens up and brightens my eyes. It's a nice change from wearing my usual black liner and has become part of my every day make up routine. If you haven't tried white liner before, dooooo it! It makes such a difference!

           
          From left to right:

• Sleek Contour Kit - Highlight and bronzer.
• Rimmel Kate Moss Nude Lipstick shade 43
• Rimmel Kate Moss Nude Lipstick shade 45
• Natural Collection Eyeliner Pencil in White.

So they are all of the products I couldn't have lived without this summer, I will be sure to do this style post every season! Leave me a comment with any product recommendations you have and let me know which products you've been loving this summer too!

- Love Katy. 

Primark Summer Sale Finds!

Well, its been a while and I haven't made one blog post since January! However I have had the busiest year of my life! So lets have another go at this...

So I was in Liverpool last week and popped into Primark to look at their home section. However the home section is on the fourth floor, and so on my way I had to make my way through the summer sale. All four floors of it. So yep, you know where this is going...

Here are a few HUGE bargains I picked up.

 High waisted grey jeans and Khaki ripped jeans - £7.00 each.

 Nude ballerina pumps - £3.50 (I'm obsessed with these!)

                                                          Gypsy style crop top - £3.00

 Chequered Shirt - £5.00. I can't wait to wear this in Autumn!

 Turtle neck vest - £2.00

Basic lounge T-shirt - £2.00

A snap of an outfit I put together - head to toe Primark! Slip on shoes - £3.00.
Total outfit cost - £12.00!

Check out your local Primark for the last of the Summer Sale!
-Love Katy!

2015. Trying Something New!

Well hello there! I'm Katy, welcome to my blog, and of course - happy new year!

One thing I have always wanted to do is create a blog, and since it is a new year, I thought now would be as good as time as any to give it a go. I haven't got any specific genre or theme of what this blog is going to be based on, my current thoughts/idea is that it will be general life style posts, beauty, travel and generally be a place to document my life to look back on throughout the year! I sometimes find that life can be so busy and consuming, I often don't have time to fully appreciate or reflect on special moments or experiences as life is just so faced paced at times. Along with the 'live in the moment' view young society often have today, which is great for enjoying experiences there and then, however I sometimes find that there is no time to reflect and remember just how great a moment was after it has happened, which is often the time when you realise how amazing it actually was. So, that is one of the main reasons I have for creating this blog, so that month by month or even year by year (who knows?!) I can document all the little or major moments in life that I want to remember and share. So come along if you're reading this, or if not at least it will be here for me to look back on as a little project for 2015!

Once again, happy new year - the year is yours, what will you do with it?