Category: Shopping/Haul

Nyx Haul

7/8/2016

Hello Everyone!
Happy Sunday!
My local Boots finally has a Nyx stand which I am thrilled about so obviously I had to pick up a few bits while I was there.

Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick in 'Pink Lust'

I am seriously obsessed with this colour - it's an electric pink, and a colour I've been trying to get hold of for months. Unfortunately the quality just isn't there; it's so streaky and settles in all the lines of my lips, plus you can't layer it because it makes the whole situation much worse. Such a shame!

Round Lipstick in 'Doll'

The colour of this lipstick is a perfect brownish nude (all swatches are below) and the consistency of this is so creamy yet so pigmented, it glides on and really packs a punch. A really great lipstick for only £4! I'll definitely have to pick some more shades up next time I'm in town.

Jumbo Eye Crayon in 'Milk'

Obviously this is a cult favourite among bloggers and I had been trying to get it on Amazon for weeks with no success, so this was the first thing I picked up. I really like it; it glides on and blends out well without losing the pigment. It made a great base for my eyeshadow and helped make the colour pop. Will definitely be picking up a few more as I can't get enough of eye shadow crayons.

Vivid Brights Liquid Eyeliner in 'Violet'

I have only tested this on the back of my hand but it's really pigmented and the brush is really flexible so I think it'll be easy to control. I don't use liquid eyeliner generally so I think this'll be a fun way to mix things up a bit. It did stain my hand a bit so I'm hoping it won't stain my eyelids, haha!

Nyx Haul | 'Doll' Lipstick / 'Pink Lust' Cream Lipstick / 'Milk' Jumbo Eye Crayon / 'Violet' Liquid Eyeliner | abibailey.co.uk

From the top down :
'Doll' Lipstick / 'Pink Lust' Cream Lipstick / 'Milk' Jumbo Eye Crayon / 'Violet' Liquid Eyeliner

I'm really pleased with my purchases and will definitely be picking up more soon (#NoSelfControl).
Are there any Nyx products that you love and that I should try?
Leave me a comment!

Thanks for reading and I'll be back next Sunday.

Abi xxx

Read my last post here: Holy Grail Beauty Products

Follow me on Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin' | Pinterest

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Mini Amazon Beauty Haul | Rimmel & Avon

17/7/2016

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Hello Everyone!
Happy Sunday!
Did you see my Holiday Lookbook last week (here)?
I impulse bought a couple of beauty bits from Amazon recently, as I have no self control and it was 'prime day' or something, so there were loads of deals on and thought I'd show you them and tell you my first thoughts.

Mini Amazon Beauty Haul | abibailey.co.uk

So this is what I bought:
- Rimmel Match Perfection Silky Loose Powder in '001 Translucent'
- Avon Eye Shadow Primer in 'Light Beige'
- Rimmmel Volume Colourist mascara in 'Extreme Black'

Rimmel Match Perfection Silky Loose Powder in '001 Translucent'

Rimmel Match Perfection Loose Powder in '001 Translucent' | abibailey.co.uk

Rimmel Match Perfection Loose Powder in '001 Translucent'

The first thing that struck me about this powder is that a little powder puff came with it, which I thought was a nice added touch, it's not often you get a little freebie! It's finely milled so it goes on smoothly without looking cakey. I know the pierced lid (I don't know the correct term!) is meant to stop it from spilling everywhere but I'd rather just dip my brush straight into it and deal with the mess, haha. It's a nice powder and it set my make up well.

Avon Eyeshadow Primer in 'Light Beige'

I've been looking for an eyeshadow primer for a while now and thought this one looked good as I know Emma Pickles raves about it and it looked similar to the MAC Paint Pots so I thought I'd give it a go. It's a nice smooth texture and is a soft shade, hardly noticeable once it has dried, but creates a smooth base for eyeshadows. I applied a thin layer but it went a bit flaky when I added a second thin layer. It made blending eyeshadow much easier and it looked seamless! It didn't make the colours stand out as much as I was hoping though.

Rimmel Volume Colourist Mascara in 'Extreme Black'

I was intrigued about the lash tinting complex and I can never have enough mascaras! Plus it was only £4. From first use it separated, lengthened and gave my lashes a little bit of volume. I like the brush, it's not too big and the bristles catch each lash. I'll keep trying it and see if I notice a difference in the colour of my lashes and report back!

I love picking up beauty bits from Amazon, have you picked up anything worth me trying?
Leave me a comment!

Thanks for reading, I'll be back next Sunday with this month's Glossybox.

Abi xxx

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Holiday Lookbook | Alicante 2016

10/7/2016

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Hello everyone!
Happy Sunday!
Did you see last week's post about my Summer Skincare Essentials (here)?
As you may know if you've seen my recent posts or my social media, I recently went to Alicante for 10 days with my family. It was amazing!
I did a Holiday Lookbook last year and I enjoyed it, so I thought I'd do it again this year as I picked up a few new pieces. I'll mark them with a *.
If you want links to anything, just let me know!

Day Outfits

Holiday Lookbook | Alicante 2016 | abibailey.co.uk

* Dress: Primark
*Wedges: New Look

*Hat: New Look
*Top: Boohoo
*Skirt: New Look
*Shoes: ASOS
*Bangles: Primark
*Bag: Boohoo

*Top: ASOS
*Shorts: ASOS
Shoes: H&M (last year)

Top: Primark (old)
Shorts: Primark (last year)

*Top: Boohoo
*Shorts: ASOS

*Vest Top: Primark

Evening Outfits

Dress: Primark (old)
Wedges: New Look (old)

Playsuit: Boohoo
Shoes: New Look

Playsuit: Boohoo

Playsuit: Floozie by Frost French (old)

That's my Holiday Lookbook for Alicante this year!
What sort of thing do you wear on holiday?
Are you going away anywhere?
Leave me a comment!

Thanks for reading and I'll speak to you next Sunday.

Abi xxx

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Gerard Cosmetics Haul

12/6/2016

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Hello everyone!
Happy Sunday!
Did you see last week's post about my Updated Skincare Routine (here)?
I've bought a couple of bits and pieces from Gerard Cosmetics recently so I thought you'd like to see them.

Packaging

Let's just take a moment to acknowledge how pretty the packaging is! I love the black and gold with the dainty dots. The gold is so shiny on the actual items and looks so glamorous. I really like the font too. The little added cover on the highlighter is such a great touch; it keeps it protected and is something I've not seen before.

Hydra Matte Liquid Lipsticks

Gerard Cosmetics Hydra Matte Liquid Lipsticks in Mercury Rising | abibailey.co.uk

I already have Immortal (a deep red) and loved it so I thought it was necessary to pick up Mercury Rising (orange) and Ballet Slipper (soft pink). Immortal is crazy pigmented so I was hoping these two would be as well, but unfortunately they just don't have the same intensity. Ballet Slipper is very sheer and would take quite a few coats to get an opaque coverage. Mercury Rising is a bit better but the application is quite streaky. Maybe I just got a couple of dud ones!
Obviously they are a matte formula but they are really comfortable to wear, they don't feel too drying like other matte lip products. They doe-foot applicator is very precise but you do have to be accurate because if you keep layering it, I found Immortal to go a bit patchy.
Swatches are below with the lip pencil :).

Lip Pencil

Gerard Cosmetics Lip Pencil and Hydra Matte Liquid Lipstick Swatches | abibailey.co.uk

Top to bottom: Lip pencil in Immortal / Hydra Matte Liquid Lipsticks in Immortal / Mercury Rising / Ballet Slipper
The lip pencil is creamy and glides on nicely and like the liquid lipstick, is also very pigmented and long lasting. This is also called Immortal and I bought it to go with the Hydra Matte Liquid Lipstick. It's more of a cherry red but it matches the liquid lipstick really well and helps with a neat application! It isn't a twist up liner so when it starts to get blunt, you'd need to sharpen it. That doesn't bother me but I know it does some people.

Star Powder

Gerard Cosmetics Star Powder in Marilyn Swatch | abibailey.co.uk

This is the Star Powder in the shade Marilyn and it is the most beautiful gold highlighter ever. EVER.
I am in love and have been using it everyday. It really adds a glow. It's so smooth and so beautifully pigmented. It lasts all day too; even after about 15 hours wear, my cheek bones are still glowing.
It's a definite summer staple and would look amazing with a tan. Definitely my most favourite thing I've bought for a while.

Have you ever bought anything from Gerard Cosmetics?
What are your thoughts on any of these products?
Leave me a comment!

Thanks for reading and I'll be back next Sunday with this month's Glossybox!

Abi xxx

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Big Beauty Haul | Colourpop, Makeup Geek and More

15/5/2016

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Hello everyone!
Happy Sunday!
Did you see last week's post about what you need for a Make Up Brush Starter Kit? (Here)
I've been shopping on Amazon and Beauty Bay and have ordered a few bits (you may have seen on my instagram) and thought I would share my thoughts with you.

Big Beauty Haul | Colourpop, Makeup Geek and More | abibailey.co.uk

Eyes

Zoeva Classic Liner Brush | abibailey.co.uk

Here we have
*Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow in the colours Bella Sand and Bella Champagne
*Makeup Geek singular shadow in Masquerade
* Zoeva Classic Liner Brush
*W7 Absolute Lashes Mascara
*Maybelline Define-A-Lash Volume Mascara

The Milani shadows are nice but not uber pigmented, they're quite sheer but give a nice glossy look to the lid. Very subtle.
Masquerade is lovely and pigmented like most MUG shadows. I've just bought a purple eye crayon to use as a base and I'm dying to try them out together.
I've been on the hunt for a new liner brush as I'm getting bored of my current one. This Zoeva Classic Liner Brush is good, but I'm struggling to get a sharp point at the end of my eyeliner wings.
The W7 mascara is a great dupe for the Benefit They're Real mascara! I love that the tip has extra bristles so you can use it to coat the lashes you missed.
Maybelline Define-A-Lash was my holy grail mascara when I was at school until they stopped stocking it! So I just had to try the Define-A-Lash Volume version! It's a fantastic mascara; coats all your lashes evenly, separates them and lengthens them.

Face

*W7 Bronzer (has no name)
* Morphe MB30 Brush

Contouring is so popular in the beauty world and I really wanted to try it to see what all the hype was about.
I bought the Morphe MB30 Brush as I don't really have a contour brush (this one reminded me of the NARS ITA brush but for a much more affordable price). It's a nice brush with dense bristles.
I've only used it once so far as I really need to practice contouring (on a day when I'm not going anywhere so I can avoid looking like a muddy mess) as I struggled to blend the bronzer out well enough. In Hindsight I probably should have bought a contour powder as opposed to a bronzer but oh well.
I have been loving the W7 Bronzer on my eyes though! It's amazing as a crease colour or to dust over the lid to add some definition. It has great pigmentation and blends out really nicely.

Colourpop Ultra Satin Lip | abibailey.co.uk

Colourpop Ultra Satin Lip Swatches | Frick 'n' Frack and Echo Park | abibailey.co.uk

Now we all know how obsessed I was with the Ultra Matte Lip liquid lipsticks (here) and a girl on instagram suggested I try the Ultra Satin Lip liquid lipsticks so I bought a couple.
I have the shades Frick 'n' Frack and Echo Park.
Frick 'n' Frack is a dark, brick red sort of colour; quite nineties.
Echo Park is a pinky nude shade.
These are much more comfortable to wear than the Ultra Matte ones as they're not as drying.
The formula is really nice and very pigmented. The doe-foot applicator is very precise which is good. The longevity of these is also brilliant, hardly had to retouch them at all throughout the day.

Overall very pleased with all my purchases!
Have you tried any of the these items?
I'd love to hear your thoughts on them!

Thanks for reading and I'll be back next Sunday with May's Glossybox.

Abi xxx

P.S. You can follow me on Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'

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Freedom Makeup Haul

17/4/2016

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Hello Everyone!
Happy Sunday!
I hope you enjoyed last week's post 'The 5 Product Face' (here), it's so difficult to narrow it down.
As you may know, I made a big ol' Freedom Makeup order the other week, so today I'll be showing you what I bought and what I think of it.

Freedom Makeup is SUPER affordable, is a sister brand to Make Up Revolution and doesn't test on animals.
Here's the run down of what I bought:
- Pro 12 Audacious 3 eyeshadow palette, £4
- Mono Eyshadows in Glided 217 and Gilded 218, 75p each
- Pro Studio Priming Water, £6
- Blush Professional Pro Blush 3 in 'True Loved', £1
- Pro Lipstick Pink 103 in 'Pink Lust', 75p
- Makeup Artist Pro Favourites Collection (5 lipstick set) £3.50

Freedom Makeup Pro 12 Audacious 3 | abibailey.co.uk

Freedom Makeup Pro 12 Audacious 3 swatches | abibailey.co.uk

Mono Eyeshadow in Glided 217 (left) and Gilded 218 (right)

Eyeshadows

The eyeshadows swatch really nicely, but when applying them with a brush they're not overly pigmented.
They are glittery as opposed to shimmery,
They blend well,
They don't crease.

They're not fantastic but when you're getting 12 eyeshadows for £3.50, what can you expect?

Verdict: Probably wouldn't buy again.

Blush Professional Pro Blush 3 'True Loved' | abibailey.co.uk

Priming Water

I only have good things to say about these two items!
I was a bit sceptical about the priming water as I thought 'how is vitamin water going to make a difference?' but oh man was I wrong.
It is packed with multi vitamins which is supposed to hydrate the skin for hours, boost radiance and revitalise your complexion.
I spray it on top of my usual primer as a boost and it makes my foundation apply so much nicer! It stops it from looking cakey and it makes me look less shiny throughout the day.
It's also stopped my make up from breaking up on my nose.
Plus who doesn't want revitalised skin?

Verdict: Absolute must have!

Blush

The blush gives a subtle pink 'flushed' look to the skin, it looks quite natural which is nice.
It blends really well and didn't go patchy.
It isn't the most pigmented but at least that way you can build up the intensity.

Verdict: Lovely blush, especially for £1

Freedom Makeup Pro Lipstick 'Pink 103 Pink Lust' | abibailey.co.uk

Freedom Makeup Makeup Artist Pro Favourites Collection | abibailey.co.uk

Freedom Makeup Makeup Artist Pro Favourites Collection swatches | abibailey.co.uk

(Left to Right) Pink Lust, Untouched, Candy Sweet, Expression, True Power, Dusk Till Dawn

Lipsticks

The lipsticks in this 5 set are the 'favourite' picks from each of the other available 5 sets:
Untouched is from Bare (111)
Candy Sweet is from Pink (102)
Expression is from Red (108)
True Power is from Now (120)
Dusk Till Dawn is from Vamp Noire

They're very smooth,
Not overly pigmented but give a nice wash of colour,
Didn't bleed,
Absorbs quite quickly, so needs topping up often.

Verdict: Probably wouldn't buy again, but it was nice to try new shades.
If you like a wash of colour as opposed to opaque colour, you'll like these.

Over all not a bad little spending spree!
Absolutely love the priming water and the blush is great too.
Nothing was 'bad' but the eyeshadows could be better, even at the cheap price they are, I would expect more from them.

Have you bought anything from Freedom?
What are your thoughts?
Leave me a comment!

Thanks for reading and I'll speak to you next Sunday.
Next week's post is 'What's In My Glossybox? April 2016'
So look out for that (or follow me on Bloglovin' so you don't miss it)

Abi xxx

You can follow me on Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'

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Huge Superdrug Beauty Haul

8/11/2015

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Hello everyone!
Happy Sunday!

I had some birthday money to spend so of course I headed straight to Superdrug to get my make up fix! The main point of the trip was because all my make up had started to run out at the same time (waah) so I was picking up some of my favourites and a couple of extras too. So I thought you might like to have a looksie. Brace yourselves for a lot of photos and a fair bit of text.

Let's start with the all important skincare; I'm rubbish at remembering to exfoliate and I never use toner but I always make sure to moisturise every morning and night and apply lip balm without fail.

Garnier Daily Oil-Free Moisturiser / Palmer's Lip Balm
I really like this moisturiser as it helps combat my oily skin. It's a lovely consistency and it absorbs quickly, leaving my skin feeling smooth. It makes a nice base for make up too.
This is my favourite lip balm and I've been using it for years , its the best one I've used as it leaves my lips soft and well moisturised. I much prefer a stick lip balm than a pot as I don't like applying it with my fingers.
On to make up!

L'Oreal True Match Concealer (in Beige) / Barry M Radiant Rod Highlighter
I used to use this concealer a few months ago until I came across the Rimmel 'Lasting Finish' Concealer (Review HERE). I've got a bit bored of using the Lasting Finish so I've gone back to the True Match as I like the consistency and the coverage. It also has a doe-foot applicator which I think is handy for applying under the eyes.
I can't wait to use the highlighter; to be honest I've been looking for a powder highlighter for a while and I was hoping I'd find one from MUA or Make Up Revolution but I had no such luck in my Superdrug (I'll keep looking though as I will not be beaten!) but I had a look at the Barry M Radiant Rod Highlighter a while ago, but I couldn't resist it this time! I love the crayon style as I think it gives more controlled application.

Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner by EyeStudio (in Black)
I'm going to start straight away by saying how sad I am that you can no longer purchase the original Maybelline Gel Eyeliner *cries*. Might have to buy it online in future! I think the consistency is different with this one, the brush is huge and imprecise and I never use the smudger. Never the less I must soldier on, there's really nothing wrong with this eyeliner, it's a really good eyeliner, I'm just bitter haha! I love the jet black colour, the consistency is smooth and it lasts for hours; by the end of the day, my make up may have melted off my face but my eyeliner is still on point.

L'Oreal, Maybelline, Collection Mascaras

L'Oreal Miss Manga Mega Volume (in Black Angel) / Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara (in Intense Black) / Collection No Clumps Mascara (in Ultra Black)
I love these mascaras, I always go back to them. If you read my blog post " How To Achieve Long, Thick Lashes" (HERE) you'll have seen two of these before.
I love Miss Manga as it adds loads of volume, Lash Sensational is great because it has a spoon-shaped brush and catches every lash and No Clumps is perfect as it has lots of little teeth so you can really build length and volume and roll the brush to get all the product off the brush.
They're my holy grail mascaras and they're excellent on their own and used together. I literally cannot express how much I love these mascaras!
Lastly is Nail Varnish.

Collection 7 Day Wear Nail Polish (in 17. Milk Caramel)
I've been looking for a nude nail varnish for ages now but I never know quite what to choose as nudes vary so much; there's creamy nudes, pinky nudes, browny nudes (said 'nudes' too many times...) etc, but this one stood out to me. It's a peachy colour and I think it looks very classy.
The consistency is lovely and it has a pearlescent sheen to it, so it isn't a glossy finish, nor a matte finish and it dries quickly too.

Hope you enjoyed the haul, let me know if you love/hate any of these products by leaving me a comment!
Also don't forget to follow me on Bloglovin so you never miss a post.

Thanks for reading and I'll speak to you soon,

Abi xxx

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MakeUp Revolution "New-trals VS Neutrals" Palette

13/9/2015

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Hello everyone!
Happy Sunday!

If you saw my tweet, you'll know I've done a lot of beauty shopping recently so I'll be doing some reviews here on the blog. I made a MakeUp Revolution order, purely because I couldn't get what I wanted in my Superdrug as it's a bit lacking! I bought the Oil Control Setting Spray (£5), the New-Trals vs Neutrals palette (£6.99) that I had been eager to get my hands on and a couple of new eye brushes; the E101 and the E103 (£1.99 each).
Read on to see what I think of them.

The shade names from left to right; top row:
Bias, Neutral, Personal, Vogue, Trend, New-tral, Tone, Custom
Bottom row:
Cool, Style, Partial, Mode, Adapt, Buff, Suit, Strong

I'm sorry about the uneven lighting, it was a nightmare! Bias and cool are very pale shades, hence why they don't show up too well.

Pros:

Cons:

-The shadows are very pigmented
- They're a creamy powder consistency
- They blend beautifully
- Nice combination of mattes and shimmers
- Perfect for those who enjoy a bold look or a more neutral one

- By the end of the day they had creased and basically absorbed into my eyes completely , even with a primer. This was after 13 hours wear though, so it's to be expected.

Pros:

Cons:

- The E103 (right) blended and diffused the colour wonderfully without totally removing it
- Both brushes have really soft synthetic bristles.

- The E101 (left) left more pigment on the brush than it did on my eye. I'm going to put this down to it being brand new, as I find that when brushes are too clean, they're not as good.

MakeUp Revolution Oil Conntrol Fixing Spray

Pros:

Cons:

- Smells delicious
- Comes out in a nice even spritz
- Nice size bottle

- I found it made me look more shiny and didn't help control my oiliness . I really like a matte finish though whereas you might like more of a glow.

Verdict

Overall I was a bit disappointed with the fixing spray, I would have been very happy to find something to keep my shine at bay. I've only been using it about a week though so maybe it'll improve with more use!

I like the brushes, the fluffy blending one is going to become one of my favourites, I can already tell.

The palette is beautiful. I'm a sucker for eyeshadow palettes anyway but I especially love the mix of regular neutrals and some unusual ones such as the pinks, its a very versatile palette and you can create an array of different looks. I love the shimmers and think this is a perfect palette for autumn/winter.

Do you have this palette? what are your thoughts on it? I know the pink shades put some people off. Leave me a comment with your thoughts and follow me on Bloglovin!

Thanks for reading and I'll speak to you soon,

Abi xxx

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Make Up Of The Day, Featuring New Products

2/8/2015

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Hello Everyone!
Happy Sunday!
I wasn't sure if I was going to post today, hence why I'm posting so late.
I bought a couple of new beauty products on Friday and wanted to use them today. I was pleased with the look so I thought I'd share it with you.
It's a grey smokey eye with a pretty pink lip.

Make Up Of The Day, Featuring New Products

Let's ignore the split in my fringe and the fact that my skin is rubbish at the moment (thanks hormones).

Face

Primer: Rimmel 'Fix & Protect Pro'
Concealer: Rimmel 'Lasting Finish Concealer'
Foundation: Rimmel 'Lasting Finish 25 Hour With Comfort Serum'
Powder: Rimmel 'Stay Matte' in '004 Sandstorm'
Blush: *new* Make Up Revolution in the colour 'Sugar'

Eyes

Brows: (product not pictured because I'm an idiot) Rimmel 'Professional Eyebrow Pencil' in the colour 'Dark Brown'
Eye Shadow Stick (used as a base): *new* 'GOSH Forever Eye Shadow Stick' in '04 Brown'
If you read my last post (here) you'll know I wanted more of these eye shadow sticks, so I bought two more, haha!
Eye Shadow: 'Resist' from the Urban Decay 'Naked On The Run' palette
Eye Liner: Maybelline 'Lasting Drama Up To 24H Gel Liner' in 'Black'
Mascaras: Maybelline 'Lash Sensational' in 'Black' and Collection 'No Clumps Definition Mascara' in 'Black'

Lips

Lipstick: *new* NYX 'Butter Lipstick' in the colour 'Little Susie'

So that's what I'm wearing on my face today!
I've basically booted summer out of the door and am sooo ready for smokey eyes and dark lipstick and all that good stuff!

What season do you like best for make up trends?

Thanks for reading and I'll speak to you soon,

Abi xxx

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'Rose Hill' Lipgloss & '1995' Lipstick By Gerard Cosmetics

28/6/2015

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Hello everyone!
Happy Sunday!
As usual I'm going to start by apologising and explaining a few things...
If you read my last blog post (here) I mentioned that my next post was going to be about my favourite pieces that I had bought from Primark the day before but when I looked back over the stuff I bought, it was all very boring!
Plus I've worked the past three Sundays, the weather has been very hit and miss and I've worked a lot of evenings (never my choice!) so trying to find time and the right light to take photos of anything, has been a huge problem.
So like I said, I won't be posting every week just for the sake of posting, especially as I'm trying to feel more 'me' again.
Anywaaaay, enough of the waffle and excuses! I just hate not posting but I can't do three million things at once either!
This is going to be a looong post, so brace yourselves.

'Rose Hill' Lipgloss & '1995' Lipstick By Gerard Cosmetics

I'm going to explain to you the major ordeal that was involved with this order... It's just a long explanation of why it took so long for the delivery to get to me so if you want to skip over this part, feel free!
Shaaanxo (a beauty youtuber) posted on Instagram a promo code that Gerard Cosmetics had given her to give to her followers and the deal was a lipgloss, lipstick and whitening pen (as the company used to be Whitening Lightning) bundle for £17 (plus all their worldwide shipping is all free), so I thought 'ooh I've wanted to try their lip products, I'll make an order'...
I made the original order in March, and it arrived on Thursday, haha.
Here's the thing, at the time I made the order, Gerard Cosmetics were switching to Fed-Ex as their delivery company so I made the order, got the email to say it should arrive within about two weeks of the shipping confirmation email. I waited about a month and never got anywhere so I emailed them again and they explained that as my order is international (as it is an American company) it would take about 3-6 weeks, so I waited again and still nothing so I emailed them back with my order number and a girl emailed me back (the ladies I spoke to were so helpful and friendly) saying that my order had been lost (probably due to the change over of delivery companies) so she sent out my order again for me and told me that it should arrive within a couple of weeks of the shipping confirmation order email. I never received a shipping confirmation order email. So I emailed them back again and this time I received an email with the Fed-Ex tracking number and a link to track my order. It finally arrived on Thursday and I'm so pleased!

Even though it was such a long-winded order, the ladies I emailed were so helpful and gave me a discount code for my next order because of the inconvenience. I think I will make more orders in the future because the price is right and they do everything with such a personal touch.
I ordered 'Rose Hill' and '1995' because they are Jaclyn Hill's creations (another beauty youtuber) when she paired up with Gerard Cosmetics. There were so many colours to choose from, I didn't know what to pick! So as I love Jaclyn I thought it'd be nice to try out her own lip product concoctions.

It arrived in a box and inside the box was this pouch wrapped in beautiful pink tissue paper. I was already thrilled before I'd even opened it!

I even received a personalised thank you card! Plus how perfect is that hand writing?

Jaclyn called it '1995' as she created it during the time when the '90's lip was back in fashion and trending everywhere. This is a great browny nude with a touch of red in it. I was also swayed because I was born in 1995, haha.
It's a lovely matte formula but not a long laster unfortunately as it's quite sheer. Maybe if I layer it and blot it a few times it might have a longer wear.

It's a bit more brown in real life as it looks quite red here. Struggling with the natural daylight!

'Rose Hill' Lipgloss by Gerard Cosmetics

You definitely cannot fault them for their packaging! It is gorgeous. The gold is beautiful and so shiny and they just look really classy and high end, I wish my camera could have picked it up more. The lipgloss has a little mirror on the side of the tube and even two bright LED light bulbs in the cap so you apply it anywhere!

It looks more red in the photo but it is quite pink in actuality. I can't really remember the reason behind naming this 'Rose Hill' I think it was because she wanted a rosy pink colour and her last name is Hill (?), she explained it in the video when it was originally released so you can see that on her channel if you wish!
It's a lovely summer pink, think of watermelon and roses and you're there.
It's quite a thick, sticky formula, it isn't noticeable on the lips but it does make it a bit trickier to apply. It might be better worn over a lipstick as opposed to on its own. I'm not sure how long it lasts as I haven't worn it outside yet!

I'm excited to start using the whitening pen! Once I've been using it for a while, I'll make sure to do a review on it and let you know my thoughts on it.

Congratulations, you've made it to the end!
I'm sorry that was such a huge post but I had a lot to say, and a lot to show you!
Hopefully that makes up for not posting last week.

Have you bought anything from Gerard Coametics?
What are your thoughts about them?
Let me know in the comments!

It's highly unlikely that I'll be posting next Sunday as I fly out to Spain with my family in the afternoon! I'll be there for two weeks, so it's going to be some time before I'm back blogging!
I'll hopefully have lots to share with you when I get back though.

It's nearly July, so have a wonderful month and I'll speak to you as soon as I can!
Thanks for reading,

Abi xxx

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Payday Haul

1/3/2015

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Hello everyone! And hello March!
Happy Sunday to you.
The last Friday of every month is the day that I get paid and luckily, this time, I had the day off. A perfect excuse to do some shopping!
So I went shopping with my Mumma and treated her to lunch, it was one of the nicest days I have had in a very long time.
I bought quite a bit so I thought you'd be interested in seeing it!

In total, I bought:
- 2 tops from New Look
- A handbag from TKMaxx
- A purse from TKMaxx
- A photo frame from TKMaxx
- 2 Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine nail varnishes from Superdrug
- Argan Oil from Superdrug
- Elegant Touch Brush On Nail Glue from Superdrug

I bought the Argan Oil (£4.49) because I've heard lots of good things about it and wanted to try it for myself and see what the hype is about.
I'm into acrylic/fake nails at the moment so a constant supply of nail glue is a must! (£3.09)
As a nail varnish junkie and a lover of the Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paints, I bought 'Papaya' and 'Fondant'. Perfect colours for spring. (£3.99 each but there's a two for £7 deal on at the moment)

As you may know, I'm in the process of updating my bedroom. I have a few photo frames but they're all quite old now, or not what I've chosen or are the wrong colour etc. This one is quite little so it's suitable for smaller photos or even little Polaroids. It was £12.99.

The purse was £9.99 and the bag was £24.99

The purse is a lovely pink colour and has 12 card slots (4 at the front and 8 along the top), 3 zippy pockets, and 3 sections for notes and vouchers so it has lots of space which is fab because I can't stand tiny purses or bags- I have a lot of junk.

The bag is a shell/cream colour with black piping and gold zips. It has two zips at the front and one at the back and it comes with an adjustable shoulder strap too which is handy as the little handles are a bit too small to hang the bag from your shoulder.
Inside it has two zippy pockets and two pockets for things like your phone and your keys, the main pocket itself is quite spacious too, again, perfect for all of my junk.

The blue shirt was £19.99 and the white blouse was £22.99.

The shirt is navy blue with a white grid, check design. It buttons up and has 3/4 buttoned up sleeves which you can unbutton to make longer. It's a casual loose fitting style and is longer at the back so it covers your bum nicely, so it'd be perfect to wear with leggings or skinny jeans and boots.

The blouse is a bit sheer so you'd have to wear a white bra underneath (obviously) or a little camisole.
This top is so delicate, feminine and pretty. It's got lace detailing on the shoulders, round the wrists and round the waist. It has pretty detailing on the chest and down from the shoulders.
It buttons up at the back but you don't need to undo them to put it on, I just slipped it over my head. This would look cute tucked into a skirt or with jeans and heels for evening, or flats or boots for more casual wear.

I had a lovely lunch with my Mumma in a cafe we often go to in our town centre called Cafe Giardino. It's one of our faves as the people are so friendly and the food is delicious!

Well that was a lengthy post!
I think it's nice to treat yourself sometimes, especially if you'd been feeling a bit crumby like I had!
Have you treated yourself to anything recently? Or is there anything I need to get my hands on? Let me know!

Thanks for reading and I'll speak to you soon,
Abi xxx

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Christmas Nail Art Goodies

18/1/2015

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Hello everyone!
As I mentioned last week in my Christmas Make Up blog post, today I'll be showing you all the nail art stuff I was lucky enough to receive for Christmas.

- Shoe/Leg Nail Files
- Intensive Hand/Nail Mask
- Sally Hansen Double Duty Base and Top Coat
- 4 Sided Nail File/Buff/Shine
- Butterfly Printed Fake Nails
- Three Barry M Nail Varnishes
- One Primark Nail Varnish

Starting with the basics...
The soap at work can be quite harsh on my hands and they get really sore and dry, they're not like that at the moment but if they get bad again this nourishing hand mask will be lovely and soothing!
The Sally Hansen Double Duty is an excellent base and top coat, so it's always handy to have on hand (too many puns?).

Nail files are always useful! These ones are funky looking too. Its also great to have a nail buffer, nail file and nail shiner(?) in one.

As much as I love creating nail art designs, sometimes it's so much quicker and easier to just stick some preprinted designs on and then, when you're bored, just peel (although you should soak) them off!
Plus I think they are literally a £1 and there's lots of different designs. Fab.

Here we have Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine in 'Plum', Barry M Limited Edition 'Jingle Bells' , Barry M Glitterati in 'Starlet' and a silvery blue nail varnish from P.S Love which is a Primark brand.
I haven't got round to using 'Jingle Bells' yet (it has gold confetti, with gold stars and red flecks) or the silvery blue, but I've used Plum and Starlet together and that looks lovely. The thing I love about the Glitterati paints is that they're like a lacquer so they're really sparkly, to the point where you could where them on their own, with two coats.

So that's all my Christmas Nail Art stuff!
I haven't decided what I'm posting next weekend so you'll just have to keep your eyes peeled (or follow my Twitter and Bloglovin ;) links are at the top!)

Thanks for reading and I'll speak to you next week,
Abi xxx

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Christmas Make Up

11/1/2015

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Hello Everyone!
We've done enough reflecting and goal making for now, time to get back to make up and nail art.
Today I want to share with you the make up I recieved for Christmas, I only asked for two things and was lucky enough to receive them both.

This is the Make Up Revolution Ultimate Eyeshadow Collection and Urban Decay 'Naked On The Run'.
Make Up Revolution is a sister brand to Make Up Academy, of which I am a huge fan of. I was hoping the quality would be of the same standard and it's similar, but not as good, but when you pay £10 (I think?) for 144 eye shadows, I'm not sure anyone can complain?! ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTY FOUR.
Now the Naked On The Run has been my staple for like a week. I cannot get enough of it! Perfect for taking on a weekend away or something. Not ideal to carry round day to day as it's quite large (that wouldn't stop me, I just don't want to damage it!). It's ace.

Make Up Revolution Ultimate Eyeshadow Collection

The palette consists of a mix of mattes, shimmers and neons. The only problem is that I don't think it's available anymore because it was a limited Christmas thing. They'd be mental not to bring it back though! It even comes with a little mirror and two double ended applicators, totally useless to me because I'm blind as a bat without my glasses but the little applicators are good for packing on colour. I'm sure swatches would have been useful for this blog post but I'm not down for swatching 144 different eye shadows. I don't have enough skin!
You're pretty much set for life with this palette as you can create any look you fancy. Creamy with good colour pay off too, plus you can build colour by packing on more layers.

Urban Decay 'Naked On The Run'

It's beautiful isn't it? It is on the pricier side though at £37. Definitely worth it though in my opinion!
The kit includes a travel-size 'Perversion' Mascara, travel-size 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in the shade 'Stag', six new eye shadow shades, in the colours (left to right) 'Dive', 'Fix', 'Resist', 'Dare', 'Stun' and the larger size '50/50' which doubles as a highlighter. The set also includes a blush and bronzer and a full size lipgloss in the colour 'Sesso'. As usual with Urban Decay, the colour pay off is amazing and long lasting, I love the mascara as its really lengthening and thickening and the blush and highlight are beautiful with a delicate shimmer.
I just love it! Would definitely recommend even though it is quite pricey. You have to bare in mind though that it would cost you A LOT more to buy all of it individually.

That's it for this week! Thanks for reading!
Next Sunday will be about all the nail art stuff I got for Christmas, brace yourselves, I got a lot!

Abi xxx

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Birthday Make Up

9/11/2014

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Hello everyone!
I've finally got round to showing you the make up I recieved for my birthday. My birthday was a month ago. (Oops)
I got lots of lovely beauty bits for my birthday so I might break this post up. Today I'm going to chat about the higher end make up I received, namely the Urban Decay Naked Palette and a Limited Edition Rihanna Mac Lipstick. Aren't I a lucky girl?

It came with a little packet of testers for the four different primers which was really nice. I haven't got round to using them yet though as I want to use them when I'm going out somewhere rather than just popping out into town or something. I'm sure they're ace though as everyone raves about the Primer Potions!

I didn't want to swatch them because they're not exactly new on the scene and lots of bloggers have swatched them before. They are new to me though and I wanted to keep the palette nice and pristine for when I went to use the shadows. Now that I've used them I can see why everyone raves about them! They are fabulous quality, the colour pay off is amazing and they blend beautifully. Definitely get your money's worth.

I didn't know I was getting this, I had mentioned to my mum a couple of months before that I wanted a Mac lipstick, but it was only a passing comment. It was a really nice surprise! I still haven't had chance to use it though so I'm desperate to try it out. It's limited edition from the Rihanna Collection and is a beautiful shimmery red colour.

I might do another post about the high street/drug store make up I received depending on whether anyone is interested? Let me know!

Thanks for reading and I shall speak to you soon,
Abi xxx

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Birthday Nail Varnishes

12/10/2014

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Hello Everyone!
As nail varnish and nail art is a passionate hobby of mine, I tend to receive at least a couple of nail varnishes or nail themed items for birthdays and Christmases. This year I was lucky enough to get 5 nail varnishes from various family members. It just so happens that all the colours are perfect for autumn/winter too.

From left to right I have two Barry M Gelly Paints in 'Cocoa' and 'Paprika' (from their autumn collection), two from Seventeen's Colour Carnival range in 'Dark Pink Shimmer 034' and 'Plum Shimmer 041', and lastly is an Avon Gel Finish Nail Enamel in 'Royal Vendetta'. I love when nail varnishes have good names!

Cocoa is a dark brown and will be perfect for winter, it is quite opaque but I always like to do at least two coats anyway.
Paprika is a lovely burnt orange/cinnamon/brown colour, it too is very opaque and you would probably be fine with one coat, but like I said, I think two just gives a better finish.
The only problem I have with Barry M is that they can chip/peel quite easily, but as they're such a good price and have a huge range of colours with excellent colour pay off, I don't mind too much.

Dark Pink Shimmer and Plum Shimmer are VERY sheer. Depending on your preference, you'll probably need at least three coats. The pink was a bit better but the plum needed at least four coats to get a solid opacity. I always find that shimmers are a bit translucent anyway. I think they'd look lovely as a topcoat on top of bright colours too, just to give a pop of shimmer.
They're really lovely quality and colours though, and they dry quickly as they're quite thin, so having to do more coats isn't as time consuming as it sounds.

I cannot get enough of Royal Vendetta! Not only is the name amazing and the colour an eye catching royal blue, but as it is a gel finish, it's super shiny and long lasting, so it is very chip resistant (I wore it to work for like three days and it only chipped slightly). It does look a bit streaky though so you may need two to three coats for best results.

Just a short post today to show you my new nail varnishes to add to my collection! I'm such a fan of darker colours for autumn/winter! What's your favourite colour to wear?
I've made a start on my halloween nail art designs too, so they'll be popping up on here and on my nail instgram (@nailartnut) in the next couple of weeks, so look out for those!

As always, thanks for reading and I shall speak to you soon!
Abi xxx

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e.l.f Make Up Brushes

14/9/2014

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Hello everyone!
Recently I needed some new make up brushes and as much as I like the Real Techniques brushes, they can be quite expensive. I remembered the eyeshadow brush I have that I've used everyday for years and I still love it just as much. It's from e.l.f, so I thought I'd head over to the website and have a little look. I ended up getting four. Can you believe they're only £1.95 each?!

These brushes are such great quality, especially for the price. The hairs never fall out, they blend beautifully, they are easy to clean and they have been ergonomically designed so they are really comfortable to hold and easy to use.

This is the Smudge Brush and I wanted one of these for smudging (funnily enough) eyeshadow along my bottom lash line. So far I have been using it to highlight my brow bone as it's the perfect size.
Click HERE if you want to read what it says on the website.

This one is the Crease Brush which is a bit smaller than the Blending Brush so it makes blending out your eyeshadow really precise so that there are no harsh lines. You could also use it to apply eyeshadow to the bottom lash line.
Click HERE to read what it says on the website.

This is the Blending Brush, so this is a bit bigger than the Crease Brush so if you're blending colours together or blending out, it gives a softer effect.
Click HERE if you want to read what it says on the website.

I've used the same blush brush for ages and it's fine, but it's a short handled one from H&M and you can't clean it because the hairs get matted so I wanted to try a new one, just for a change and for hygiene reasons! This is the Bronzing Brush but I use it for blush. It's angled so it gets a bit of getting used to, but it picks up and applies colour nicely.
Click HERE if you want to read what it says on the website.

Just thought I'd let you know about these amazing brushes! Can't believe they're less than £2 and such fab quality.

Loads of my friends left for uni this weekend, so if you're in the same boat, I hope everything goes smoothly for you! I'm already thinking about when I can go and visit my friends!

Thanks for reading, speak to you soon,
Abi xxx

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Beauty Haul/Review

13/7/2014

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Hello everyone!
Hope you've had a fun weekend.
I've done a fair bit of shopping recently so I thought I'd show you the beauty bits I've bought over a couple of shopping trips. A massive bonus is that everything was very affordable and reasonably priced!

This is the No Clumps Definition Mascara by Collection and its excellent, really lengthens my lashes and is very buildable, and its also only £3. The I <3 Punk Jumbo Eyeliner Pen is from a new make up range in Wilkos called 'Essence' and I was a bit weary because I am so attached to my Maybelline Gel Eyeliner, I didn't think I could use, let alone like, a different eyeliner. I've also never had much luck with eyeliner pens as they're always too watery. It claims to be 'deep black, water resistant, long lasting and smudgeproof', well I used it for the first time today and I can agree that it is deep black, long lasting and smudgeproof but I don't agree with it being water resistant because I tested it on my hand and it washed off very easily, but I'm not looking for it to be waterproof so I'm not bothered! It's easy to use and I think this was only £1.60 or something too! Bargain!

This is the Oil Control Make-Up Base (ie a primer). I can't really give it a thorough review as I wore it for the first time today and have only been wearing it since about 2pm but from that, I really like it. I struggle with oily skin and this primer claims to 'balance out oily skin, minimise the appearance of pores and improve make up wear'. I think I look less shiny, my pores look smaller and I haven't had to touch up my foundation or powder and for only £3.50 you can't really complain! Especially as I was considering buying the full size version of the Smashbox Photo Ready primer that I had a tester of (and loved) and that's £25!
Think I'm really going to like this Essence range!
I have heard nothing but good things about the Revlon Lip Crayons and as I mentioned in my last blog post, you cannot go wrong with Revlon lip products. I bought the Revlon Colourburst Lacquer Balm in 120 'Vivacious' and the Revlon Colourburst Matte Balm in 205 'Elusive'. These were two for £10 in Superdrug and considering they are £8 each I would have been mental not to get two! I have worn the Lacquer Balm and I absolutely love it, the colour is gorgeous, it's really pigmented, it's long lasting and it smells of mint and leaves your lips tingly. I haven't had chance to wear the Matte Balm yet but I have tried it and I love the colour and the matte effect, it's not drying like a lot of matte lip products. The colour is the perfect nude/pink colour I have been looking for.

We all know I like nail varnish A LOT so how could I pass up a 2 for 3 on all nail stuff in Superdrug? I bought the two matte colours (Copa Cabana and Rhossili) with the pale pink (Strawberry Ice Cream) and as I was only repurchasing Strawberry Ice Cream, because mine had gone thick and gloopy, I was really pleased to get it for free! On a separate occasion I bought the grey (which is just called Grey, how imaginative) and the blue (called Blue Moon). I went for the matte shades purely because I liked the colours! They are very pigmented, dried quickly and look really nice matte, the only issue is that they chip and peel quite easily, this could be down to the basecoat I used but I'm not sure, just thought I'd mention it! They are £4 each. I bought the grey because I don't have a grey and I wanted it to go with an outfit I had planned and I bought the blue because I really wanted a very pale blue. This one is nice because it has a slight shimmer to it which I like! I am a HUGE fan of Barry M Nail Paints and I especially like that they are only £3. I feel like I've said 'like' too much now.

Anyway there's a little insight into my recent beauty buys!
Have you bought anything you're particularly fond of recently? Let me know!

Thanks for reading, I didn't realise I had that much to say!

Speak soon,

Abi xxx

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Superdrug and Primark Haul

22/6/2014

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Hello everyone!
Like I said, I did some shopping with my friends on Wednesday and thought I'd show you what I bought.

I'll start with the boring skincare essentials/hair necessities.

I had totally run out of moisturiser and I've really got into the habit of using it in the morning once I've washed my face and at night before I go to sleep and it's made a big difference. I use Garnier PureActive Anti-Imperfection Daily Moisturiser, it claims to make skin feel smoother and look more even, mattify the skin, reduce the appearance of blackheads and tighten pores. I can vouch for that!
I also bought some more pointed cotton buds, I know that sounds mental but they're perfect for clearing up make up mistakes like smudged mascara or eyeliner because they're pointed and precise at one end and flat and wide at the other to cover larger areas. I dip them into eye make up remover and couldn't be without them!
I also bought two big banana clips from Primark because a) they were £1 and b) it's getting hotter here and I like clipping my hair up and out of the way, and I have a lot of hair so I need big clips.

My favourite-est thing in the whole world: Make up. I bought two Real Techniques brushes, a lighter version of my current foundation and a new bright pink Barry M Lipstick.

This one is the Silicone Liner Brush, and if I'm honest, I don't think I'm going to get on with it. I have only used it once, but I just didn't like it. It's like a rubber nib and it picks up basically a glob of gel eyeliner and it just makes applying it too thin in consistency and too thick in width. It IS good for getting sharp points though. If anyone has it, let me know how you get on with it!

This one is the Shading Brush (meant for eyeshadow) but I bought it to blend out my concealer, it blends really nicely which is no surprise! Real Techniques are fab brushes.

My foundation is the Rimmel Stay Matte and I bought it in the shade 103 True Ivory because I already have the shade 200 Soft Beige and it is much too tan for me! I would have originally bought True Ivory but normally Ivory shades are always much, much too pale but this one is the right shade. It's name is a bit misleading though. It's a really nice mousse consistency and blends out really well and has a nice coverage. (I would put a photo in but it would just be the packaging and it seems a bit pointless.)

This is a Barry M Lip Paint in number 52, I did swatch it on my hand but the photo did it no justice! I'm wearing it today and it's like a neon baby pink (sounds horrendous but it's really not). It's a perfect shade for summer, especially with a tan.

Now onto fashion! These are all from Primark. I bought a top (Which was only £5!), a pair of chunky pink shoes and a gold cuff.

This is just a simple button up with a tie at the bottom. It's sleeveless with a collar and has large sunflowers all over it. I really like the sunflower print for summer and although I try to avoid tie fronts, because I don't feel I have the stomach for them, I seem to be drawn to them! This one is long enough that only a little bit of skin peeks through.

These were £14 and originally I wanted them in black because my current black shoes give me blisters! but they didn't have my size so I settled for the gorgeous hot pink colour instead... what a shame! They're really easy to walk in because of the chunky platform heel and you don't feel like you're going to fall out of them thanks to all the straps. I'm a little bit in love with them and desperately need an excuse to wear them out.

I've been looking for a cuff for ages because whenever I go out, I have my watch on my left wrist but there's never anything substantial enough to go on my right wrist. Now I have this. I have teeny wrists though so things like this never fit me properly!

That was a HUGE post, congratulations if you got this far!

Just thought I'd show you what I bought because I haven't been shopping in months (mainly because I hate it and usually have no money, haha!) but I felt like since I've left college now and finished exams, I deserved a bit of a treat.

Thanks for reading and I shall see you next week!

Abi xxx

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Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick in 'Pink Lust'

Round Lipstick in 'Doll'

Jumbo Eye Crayon in 'Milk'

Vivid Brights Liquid Eyeliner in 'Violet'

Rimmel Match Perfection Silky Loose Powder in '001 Translucent'

Avon Eyeshadow Primer in 'Light Beige'

Rimmel Volume Colourist Mascara in 'Extreme Black'

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Evening Outfits

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Hydra Matte Liquid Lipsticks

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Star Powder

Eyes

Face

Eyeshadows

Priming Water

Blush

Lipsticks

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Make Up Revolution Ultimate Eyeshadow Collection﻿

Urban Decay 'Naked On The Run'

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Make Up Revolution Ultimate Eyeshadow Collection