I am a weapon of massive consumption: January 2012

Monday, 30 January 2012

BuyaPowa best deal ever??!! Escentual.com £50 Gift Card

I got so excited when I saw this co-buy this morning... it's pretty good, right?

There're a few Guerlain' palettes and Daniel Sandler' blushes that I'm after... I might buy more than one...

Here, if anybody is interested:

http://www.buyapowa.com/ref/rW48ds

GlossyBox - 1st BeautyBox of 2012!

I'm curious to see what everybody else's received...

I'm pretty pleased with mine <3

Also, don't forget to enter my giveaway - only 2 days left!!!

First Haul of the Month!!! (and Year!!!)

Well, I'm pleased with myself - it's nearly the end of January and this is pretty much the only shopping I've done since last year.

I've bought few bits here and there online but I haven't been in town browsing before - managed to resist the sales and all! :)

I did spend money but wedding related buys: my shoes, jewellery, invitations, cake toppers... everything has been delivered in the last few weeks but I'll share these after the wedding. :)

In Boots, I got few essentials: Niveal Pure & Natural Cleansing Lotion and Revlon Grow Luscious by Fabulash mascara.

My morning routine never change. I try different products at night but in the morning I always wash my face with cold water and then cleanse with milk and toner. That's it. This is recommended especially if you suffer from rashes and eczema as water can worsen the condition. Anyway, I'm never too fussed with the cleansing milk, I usually just get the one which is on offer from the drugstore. The Nivea one wasn't on offer but still cheap enough; it caught my eyes because it's paraben free and contains bio argan oil & bio aloe vera. As far as I don't get any allergic reaction, I'm sure it's gonna be just fine.

I've been wanting to try the mascara for some time and all Revlon mascaras are all £5 so I picked one up. I haven't tried it yet and sorry but I can't show you the brush because I wanna keep it sealed. Have you tried this?

I used points to pay so everything is good! ;)

In Debenhams you get 500 points when you spend £30.

I wanted the Clinique Bottom Lash mascara which is 11 pounds and then worked my way up to the target... you know, it's like £5 off next time. ;)

This bottom lash mascara is such a great invention! I know you can do the same job with a normal one but it's sooo much easier. I can't believe I haven't bought this before! Also, on the packaging says that it washes away with warm water so I'm thinking the formula is more delicate and I won't have to rub and rub with remover.

next to a ordinary wand

Then I got Dead Sea Spa Magik Algimud Active Peel-Off Body Mask and Burt's Bees Lip Balm.

I've used the body mask before: it comes in a powder form and there're 3 servings in a box. You simply mix it with water and then put the paste on your skin; once tried it will peel off, leaving the skin super-soft. This is a great product and I'm trying to give my body a boost (in the eve of the wedding, of course)!

I have never tried anything from Burt's Bees (shameful, I know) and everybody loves the lip balm so I bought the original version.

Wow, what a surprise: I found it tingling on the lips which I wasn't expecting... having bought the classic. I thought it would have no flavour, maybe honey-like but instead it's very minty (where the tingling sensation also comes from, I 'm guessing). I'm not really complaining, it just not what I expected.

Are they all like that? I saw a honey version... is it also minty?

I had £20 worth of points to use so I only paid about 10 pounds.

First stop in House of Fraser was the Nars counter. I wanted to try the Sheer Glow foundation so the MUA did my make up; after trying 5 shades, I was matched with Deauville and Santa Fe. They are both a really good match on me and so similar that I couldn't decide so the girl, kindly, gave me samples to try at home.

On the skin, it is beautiful - definitely in my Top 3. At the moment, I'm leaning a wee bit towards Santa Fe because is the medium of the two and if I get slightly tanned, it would be better.

I did buy a Blusher in Sin! It has been on my wish list for ever and I don't have any cool tone, plum blush.

I love Nars packaging - so sleek and I understand that the rubbery material can get dirty easily but I do take good care of them.

I had £10 in capital bonds from work so I only had £10 left to pay.

Another foundation I've been meaning to try is the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk foundation.

My match is no 5 - I've only tried once (applied with brush) but I'm not blown away, to be honest. I felt It oxidised real fast but I'll give it another go... what's the best way to apply this foundation, in your experience?

I did buy the Master Corrector no. 1 - Pink.

Everybody raves about this on youtube and it seems to be the holy grail for dark circles!

oh my... look at the picture - it does improve the situation A LOT!!! You're supposed to use it underneath concealer - like an 'helper'!

It's expensive - 25quid - but it's worth it and I would recommend it to anybody, bothered by dark circles. Again, I had some capital bonds left so I paid nothing for it! :)

only on the left side (which is my right eye) - hope you can see the difference.

Finally, I bought this belt in Oasis - I don't have any high waist, elastic belt and I reckon I can wear this with pretty much everything. I like the clasp which is a pewter colour.

Thursday, 26 January 2012

FOTD

FACE:

Dr Brandt Pores no More

MUFE HD foundation in no. 117

YSL Touche Eclat no.1

Benefit Moon Beam

EYES:

Mac Paint Pot in Painterly

Chanel Ombres Perlees de Chanel - green shade

Jane PureLast Extender and Conditioner

Ellis Faas mascara in black

Max Factor Liquid Effect Pencil in Black Fire

LIPS:

Revlon Matte Lipstick in Strawberry Suede

Casual outfit running errands in town

Wednesday, 25 January 2012

1st JolieBox

This is the first ever JolieBox - technically, it's not a new subscription because it's basically the former Boudoir Prive' that joined forces with the french version and brought Jolie to the Uk.

First thing I notice about the box is that it's a tad smaller than its sisters; not a complaint, in fact everything is beautifully and neatly packed inside.
Also, the information card looks very expensive, quality paper - you can tell a lot was put into every detail.

OPI Gold Shatter Nail Lacquer

Good start, right? Who can be disappointed with OPI? It's the gold shatter and I'm very happy because I was looking to buy a gold polish for NYE. Sorted!

Also, it's a full size bottle and I just realised I don't have any OPI full size polish yet... it's huge!

worn over Nails Inc Lily

Mitchell and Peach Shower Wash

I've never heard of this brand before. The bottle is plastic but the label looks really posh: you can tell it's a natural product with essential oils and good ingredients. These includes honey, wheat proteins and vitamin E.

Straight from the bottle, the smell is too strong of lavender for me but once in the bathtub is not so overpowering. Also - being a shower wash - it's not idea for a bubble bath as I find it doesn't foam a huge amount.

CID Cosmetics i-gloss in Baby Doll

I was pretty intrigued by this product as Cid is famous for their gimmicky packaging. This one is a lip gloss with a light in the lid and mirror on the side; the mirror can come in handy but I'm afraid to say, the light became soon annoying! I know that you can turn the light off on the lipstick but not on the lipgloss, unfortunately... and it's kinda of blinding really. Also, the brush is rubbish and it splits up.

Nevertheless, It's a nice colour.

Jane Iredale 24-Karat Gold Dust in Rose Gold

I already received a lash conditioner in this Boudoir Prive' box and I can't help noticing AGAIN how bad and poor the packaging looks!

Apart from this - superficial, some may say - impressions, I love the colour!

The description says that it's a multi-use dust that can be used everywhere on the face and also on body & hair but I have mainly used it as an eyeshadow. I shall try on the cheeks too.

Like every pigment/powder, you need to be careful with fallout but it applies and blends nicely. Also, it has a good payoff in pigmentation.

Yon-ka Vital Defense

This is a day cream: anti-aging prevention, antioxidant and anti-pollution to help the skin preserve its youthfulness. Sorry but I haven't had the chance to try it yet... looking forward tho.

Lots of thought in the packaging and I like the foil tube.

Bonus Items:

Kusmi Detox Tea

I love that they also included a non-cosmetic product - I hope they keep up with this!

I know in the BirchBox in the States, they often send granola bars or chocolates... I think it's a nice idea.

Anyway, this tea is a blend of Mate', chinese green tea and lemon grass, flavoured with lemon. Personally, I really like it! :)

JolieBox Concealer Brush

Finally, we received this brush and again I was super-pleased as I needed one - that's luck!!! :)

I've been using it for under eye concealing and I'm liking it. Good quality and also like the design of the white short handle.

To conclude I loved this box a lot! If I had to chose only one subscription, I would pick this one, right now. I hope they keep up with the extra bonuses (although, I understand these may have been included just as an introduction present) and I don't expect an extra item but I like the idea to get 'tools' & snacks too... I liked everything I received and they seem to be working with great brands... so fingers crossed for the next one!!! :)

P.S.: there's NOT going to be a January box. We were informed, at the beginning of the year, that they want to concentrate on getting everything right with the Valentine's Day box so they were skipping a month... fine by me. :)

Monday, 23 January 2012

Delivery / Ebay

I got this beauty bag from Ebay.

Originally, it was part of a Bonus Time that Clinique runs periodically so you could get it for free but I think only in the States. Created by Milly designer Michelle Smith.

I needed a bigger storage for my face products and it's a really good size; also, I like that you can open the top completely and have clear look of all the bottle inside... it was around £3.50 and it came with the small pouch too but I haven't figured out what to do with that yet. :)

I'm very pleased actually: I like the print, the material (kinda water-repellent but not plastic), the handle... I had a look around in Boots but I could' find a better one really so I decide to turn to Ebay.

I'm also using some of the beauty boxes to store make up but I like to store my foundation bottles upright; I don't find the GlossyBoxes practical because you need to open the lid all the time and if you stack them one on top of the other is pretty time consuming... I know, there're a few tutorial on blogs on how to create a drawers set but I can't bring myself to cut the boxes (silly me *__*)... so I have decide to keep them, as they are, and customise them for jewellery.

What are your thoughts?

Saturday, 21 January 2012

GlossyBox - December 2011

First impressions: definitely, one of my favourite so far.

Quality brands, good variety and great choice of colours that would suit everybody.

Plus to make it extra special - being Christmas - everything came in a red glossy box.

Blink+Go Hi-Definition Mascara

First item in the box is a waterproof mascara; I was excited to receive it because I'm on the hunt for the perfect waterproof mascara (for the wedding, you know) but I was left disappointed with this one.

I found it extremely drying! I've used a waterproof mascara before and I know they can be a bit of a pain to remove but this one made my lashes 'crispy' straight after application.

Also, I'm not a fan of the brush: it didn't help separate or for volume.

I'm afraid, it's definitely a no-buy from me.

Cargo Cosmetics Classic Lip Gloss in Las Vegas

Not impressed with this product as I wasn't impressed with the Cargo eye pencil from Boudoir Prive Box.

I'm not a fan of lip glosses in general and this is not my colour, unfortunately - it's more brown than in the picture, actually.

Deborah Lippmann Razzle Dazzle Mini Nail Varnish with Stripped to Go Satchet

I was very excited to see this in the box! I've never tried Deborah Lippmann' polishes before, although read many many good things.

I like the miniature bottle (so cute) and the colour is gorgeous (right up my alley!); it's a purple with glitter and I had good coverage from the first coat.

Longevity wasn't the best: chipped after 3 days but still acceptable.

Together with the polish, we also received a sample of the polish remover mitt. I'm not a fan of these pre-soaked pads but this one was impressive. I used it to remove Razzle Dazzle and, although it says one mitt is enough for both hands, I only managed 6/7 fingers; you need to consider this is an heavy duty polish (with all the glitter) so it's not too bad.

MEMEME Seventh Heaven

I have never used this brand before - I think the packaging looks quite cheap... You see, I would have never bought this product but I'm pleased I discovered it because I liked it a lot.

I use this as a primer: it, also, has active ingredients and extracts to moisturise the skin but I wouldn't use it everyday.

It has a very pleasant citrusy smell and it's light on the skin, creating a smooth canvas for the make up.

You should, definitely, check it out if you're looking for a budget primer.

Rituals Foaming Shower Gel in Yogi Flow

LOVELOVELOVE!!!

This is a full size bottle and it's huge!!! The packaging looks very luxurious and it would be perfect for a present too.

The Yogi Flow version is the indian rose and sweet almond oil but I bet they are all lovely scented - in fact I'd like to try more.

I'm a big fan of foaming shower gels - I've used the Imperial Leather's before - and I find that a little goes a long wait. Plus, they always leave my skin extremely soft and nourished.