Bits and Bobs

This post is HORRENDOUSLY overdue - internet access where i'm staying is terrible, so as per my past few posts, i'm having to illicitly type this whilst at work.

Anyway I thought I would show you bits and bobs (as the title suggests) that i've accumulated over the past month or so...

Lush

Butterball £2.40 and The Comforter £4.15 (my absolute fave - makes bathwater pink!)

The Bodyshop

Chocomanina hair, face and body oil £6.75 and facial buffer £3.99

Ebay

"Focco" handbag £20.99 and Skull scarf £3.99

TKMaxx

Clutch bag £16.99, Essie Nailpolishes £9.99 (for three!), Eyelashes £2.99

Birthday

Naked 2 Palette (present), Michael Kors watch £199 (bought withbirthday money)

Primark

slipper shoes £8, socks £2.50, Umbrella £4, Waistcoat £12

 

Topshop

Nailpolish in Zodia £6.50 and Lipstick in Ooh la la £8

Supermarkets

Waitrose - Baby Bottom Butter £2.89

Morrisons - Pears soap, 99p

Tesco - Maybelline eyeliner £5.99

Duty Free



Lancome Teint Idole Ultra, £22.50

Superdrug

Hair removal cream, £3.99

Melanie x

An Interview with...Charli...

This week's interview is with the lovely Charli from Charli...

(Sorry Charli that it took so long to get this interview up!)

1. Blogging
- What inspired you to start your blog and YouTube channel?I was stuck inside due to snow in 2009 and I came across beauty blogs online and thought I can do this. So i did!

- What would you like to achieve from your blog/channel?Nothing in particular, I don't blog for a specific number of followers. I have met some lovely new people so I guess that is a massive achievement in itself! Including a new best friend.

- What advice would you give to anyone thinking about starting their own blog and/or channel?Just be yourself :)

- (Other than your own of course) what blogs/channels do you recommend?Leanne Marie
EssieButton
MakeupSavvy

- If you could choose one celebrity to guest edit your blog for a day who would you choose and why?Stephen Fry - I just love him! Although not sure where the beauty things would come into play!

2. Make-up/skincare/haircare- Which celebrity do you think has the best overall make-up/hair style?To be honest, there are a few that I love and all for different reasons! I couldn't even list them there are that many! I do love someone who has their own style and doesn't conform to what is expected.

- What one item (cosmetic or otherwise!) could you not leave the house without?Lipbalm!!!

- Do you ever go out without make-up on?Nope, this is really bad I know, but I just don't feel right. Obviously if there was an emergency then I am gone. If I'm going nowhere special then minimal makeup is for me!

- What would you say is the best Highstreet/drugstore line for each of
the following, and do you recommend any products within in each
category:a. Make-up: I have a few favourites, Revlon, Topshop, Bourjois - I am cruelty free with makeup and these are amazing brands. Revlon and topshop lipsticks and nail polishes! Bourjois bronzers, foundations and mascara! To be honest you can't go wrong with these three!
b. Haircare : I have to say I am loving LUSH at the moment and I am thinking of just using their products because they are natural, they work and they are CF. I also respect everything that LUSH stands for. Their shampoo bars are a fave of mine at the moment.
c. Skincare Same goes for LUSH here too.... Their Ocean Salt Scrub is brilliant.
- Any make-up/haircare/skincare tips? Find what works for you and embrace it! We all have different hair/skin types.

3. Style- How would you describe your style?

Basic, Simple and Unique.

- Who's your biggest style influence/where do you draw inspiration from?

Other bloggers.

- Favourite place to shop?

Zara

- Highstreet or designer?

Highstreet all the way

- Best fashion buy?

A leather jacket I had for my 17th birthday from my grandparents from Oasis. It's still going and I get so much wear out of it.

- What would you consider wardrobe essentials?

black/blue jeans, blazer, simple tees and that dress that makes you feel amazing.

- Fashion "do's and don'ts"?

Do - be yourself and wear what you feel comfortable in. Don't buy into every trend "just because" you will end up with loads you don't wear!

Any last parting words of wisdom?If you do take up blogging or have a blog already, please pop on over to mine and leave me your link! I am obsessed with blogs and finding new ones :)
Hope you have enjoyed :)
Charli...

My last (most recent) haul

Hi folks

I have actually bought a couple of bits since this last haul (nothing clothes wise, sadly) which I will hopefully do another post on at some point, but for the mean time I thought i'd show you what I got in my last haul before I moved.

Tesco (Florence and Fred)

Top, £8 and Bag, £12

Fragrance Direct.co.uk

Calvin Klein Nail Polish 'Madly Mauve' (313), £1.99 and Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Polish 'Sea and be seen', £1.49

Rimmel lasting finish lipstick 'Coral in gold', £1.99

Rimmel Colour Mouse eyeshadow, 'Pewter', 'Mocha', 'Midnight Blue', £1.99

Naked Detox Balancing Shampoo, £1.50

Primark

Blazer, £15

Shirt (2 of), £6

Blazer, £15

Snood, £4

Cuff, £3

Cigarette pants, £11

Blazer, £10 (down from £24)

Lush

'No drought' dry shampoo, £6.50 and Ultrabland (45g) £6.45

Superdrug

'Chocolate Brownie' dry shampoo, £1.99 and Barry M foundation (to mix with other foundation), £6.19

Thanks for continuing to support my blog peeps!

Melanie x

More finished products - would I buy again?

(Goodness, I really don't like this new Blogger layout - i've been away too long!)

If you subscribe to me on YouTube and have seen my latest vlog, you'll know i'm struggling with the big move down south, and as a result my blogging has suffered (I'm currently illicitly writing this on my work computer) - but this is my attempt at getting back into it!

So in the meantime of me moving and last doing one of these posts, I have accumulated quite a few empty products. I actually find it quite amusing that these type of posts/YouTube videos have become quite popular of late, as it's something that I had been doing for ages!

E.L.F. 2 in 1 Conditioning Lipgloss - I am a bit of a lipgloss junkie (although more of a lipstick one nowadays) and do get through them at quite a rate, but this one lasted me quite a long time - the fact that it's in a squeezy tube and thick in consistency probably contributes to this. The fairly thick consistency helps this last on your lips, and is smooth and comfortable to wear - it doesn't dry your lips out. Would I buy again? Yes, I would. I like most E.L.F. products generally, and at £3.50 with a really wide range of shades available you can't go wrong!

Naked 2 in 1 Shampoo/Conditioner - I have been making a marked effort to buy from companies that use natural/organic (where possible) ingredients in their products, and who don't test on animals, and Naked tick both these boxes - and they're really affordable (around £3.99 for a 250ml bottle). I've tried a couple of products both from their skincare (review to come - hopefully!) and haircare ranges, and really like them. This particular product is a fairly straightforward, 'simple' one - does the job, smells fresh and lathers really well, despite being free from SLS's and other chemicals usually added to shampoos to foam them up. Would I buy again? Yes, particularly to take on holiday when space is an issue. However i'm struggling to find this particular type - it appears the 'detox' type is now only available as a shampoo and seperate conditioner, therefore the link i've provided is for the children's version!

Boots Botanics Eye Makeup Remover - i've featured this before on one of these posts, as i'm now onto my 3rd bottle of the stuff. I also did a review on it here. So far i've found it to be the most effective of all eye makeup removers i've used (and believe me, i've tried a lot), and always try to pick bottles up when they're on special offer. Would I buy again? Yes - cheap, effective (literally dissolves eyemakeup really easily) and doesn't irritate my eyes at all.

Lacura Q10 Day Cream (from Aldi stores) - Aldi have gained quite a (good) reputation for developing really inexpensive products which use the same ingredients as more highend products, and are frequently raved about and featured in glossy magazines. This particular little pot which contains the miracle ingredient of Q10 costs literally less than £2 and is an excellent dupe for the Nivea Q10 cream. It's a really nice, lightweight day cream that sinks in quickly - perfect before applying makeup. Would I buy again? Yes - Aldi have become my go-to place when I need to grab a really inexpensive, unoffensive face cream, and i've really been impressed with their ever-expanding range of facial products.

Rimmel 1-2-3 Looks mascara - one of many mascaras I had on the go at once (bad I know), this mascara came to an untimely end only because the middle part popped off (see pic above) and it dried out! I wouldn't say I noticed a dramatic difference in the different 'steps', but it is quite a dark black which I always like in a mascara. Would I buy again? Probably not. It didn't wow me!

Palmer's Cocoa Butter - I did wonder whether or not to include this, as I go through tons of it! What can I say, it's amazing and I love it: cheap, easily accessible, not tested on animals, thick and luxurious, smells AMAZING and keeps skin soft. Love! Would I buy again? Do you even have to ask?

What have you finished recently that you would/wouldn't buy again?

Melanie x



An Interview With...Corrie, DizzyBrunette3

[Melanie disclaimer/update]

I was going to apologise for being MIA as a blogger, but as a couple of people have mentioned, blogging is my hobby, not my career and therefore I shouldn't have to apologise if I don't have the time for doing it!

I am currently in a horrendously foul mood as i've recently moved and quite frankly hate it. I want to go home. Everyone keeps saying I just need time to adjust, blah blah blah, but I don't WANT to get used to it, I want my home and my family and everything the way it was.

Anyway, in an attempt to get back to blogging and a tiny shred of normality (although I'm having to hijack the internet at my new workplace), I've got another blogger interview for you, with Corrie from Dizzybrunette3

I only started reading Corrie's blog relatively recently (around the start of the year), but I really like the cute layout of her blog and the product reviews - both highstreet and higher end - on offer.

Blogging

♥ What Inspired you to start your blog?

I was inspired by other blogs and YouTube channels that I regularly read/watched. I’ve always loved make up and writing so setting up a blog seemed like a natural thing to do.

♥ What would you like to achieve from your blog/channel?

I think I’ve already achieved much more than what I imagined, for example the Cosmo blog award nomination and the amount of readers is pretty mind-blowing! I love being able to give advice to readers and hope that it helps them! I would love to have my blog featured in a magazine though!

♥ What advice would you give to anyone thinking about starting their own blog and/or channel?

Just write about what you love, be unique and write a blog that you’d like to read yourself.

♥ (Other than your own of course) what blogs/channels do you recommend?

Ooh there’s so many! Off the top of my head; Belle’s Boutique, MissyElz, Jennifer Rose Ellen, MilkTeef, Viviannadoesmakeup, Ghostparties are blogs and videos are: Pixiwoo, Tanya Burr, Lisa Eldrige, Essiebutton and Dollybowbow.

♥ If you could choose one celebrity to guest edit your blog for a day who would you choose and why?

Probably Cheryl Cole, I love her and I’d love to find out exactly what make up she uses as she always looks so perfect!

Makeup/Skincare/Haircare

♥ Which celebrity do you think has the best overall make-up/hair style?

Millie Mackintosh from Made in Chelsea is my total make up crush. She has a really natural style that looks lovely and glam at the same time! Total girl crush!

♥ What one item (cosmetic or otherwise!) could you not leave the house without?

I never leave the house without lipstick as you always need to reapply as the day goes on!

♥ Do you ever go out without make-up on?

Not really no, I’m not very confident without it, but on holiday in the day I wear no makeup and at night it’s a lot more natural J

♥ What would you say is the best High-street/drugstore line for each of the following:

            a. Make-up: L’Oreal or Bourjois

b. Hair care: Aussie

            c. Skincare: La Roche Posay

♥ Any make-up/haircare/skincare tips?

Wear what suits you and your skin type. Always get colour matched for foundations. Hair wise the more conditioner the better! And skincare, drink lots of water and use Origins super spot remover for any nasty spots!

Style 

♥ How would you describe your style?

Very girly!

♥ Who's your biggest style influence/where do you draw inspiration from?

I usually get influence from other fashion blogs or celebrities. Currently I am loving Mollie King from the Saturdays look.

♥ Favourite place to shop?

Ooh has to be Topshop or Zara at the moment!

♥ High-street or designer?

High-street all the way!

♥ Best fashion buy?

Probably my grey leather jacket from Miss Selfridge, it’s a staple item in my wardrobe which goes with everything!

♥ What would you consider wardrobe essentials?

A leather jacket, well-fitting pair of jeans, floral dresses, plain tops to match everything and shorts!

♥ Fashion "do's and don'ts"?

My number one fashion don’t is flesh coloured tights, especially with open toed shoes. Fashion do at the moment is pastels!

You can also find Corrie on Twitter @dizzybrunette3

Melanie x

Humongous Haul!

Sometimes you just can't beat a bit of retail therapy, and I've been looking forward to it all week!

Here's what i've picked up recently...

TKMaxx

I hear and I forget notepaid (£4.99) and Hello Kitty for Liberty Pen (£2.99)

Physcian's Formula Organic Blend Bronzer (£4.99)

Superdrug

Miss Sporty Nail Polishes (£1.99 each, currently on 3 for 2 offer)

Boots

Revlon Lip Butters (£7.99 each, currently on 3 for 2 offer)

Real Techniques Blusher Brush (£9.99), Poweder Brush (£9.99), Starter Kit (£21.99) - all on 3 for 2 offer

Garnier Intensive gel-cream moisturiser (on sale - £1.99)

New Look

Cotton summer dress (£7 in sale)

Red soft-touch skinny jeans (£22.99)

T-shirts (£8.99 or 2 for £10)

Tesco

The Tourist (£5)

Bad Teacher (£4.50)

Eat, Pray, Love (£5)

Street Dance (£3)

Pretty Woman (£3)

Salt (£5)

Breakfast at Tiffany's (£3)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt2 (£7)

Primark

Blouse (£12)

Snood (£4)

Gilet (men's department) (£10)

T-Shirt (£6)

Cigarette pants (£5 on sale)

T-Shirt (men's department) (£7)

Birkenstock-style sandals (£4)

Amercan-Apparel style zipped top (men's department) (£14)

Leggings (£6)

Jacket (£5)

T-Shirt (men's department) (£7)

I've also placed an order with Fragrance Direct so watch out for a post on that!

Have you bought anything recently?

Melanie x