Find us on Google+ sophielouisew_: August 2013

Saturday 31 August 2013

The Edit | Barcelona Wishlist


1 | 2 | 3 |4 | 5 | 6  | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12

whilst you're all reading this, i shall be on a plane heading for Barcelona, so i thought i'd share with you all what i plan up on picking up on my trip

1, 2 & 3 | Zara, Topshop & Bershka
I always find that overseas branches of these stores are better than over here in the UK, so i'll be having a little snoop around and see what I can find.

4 | Korres Pepper, Jasmine and Gaiac Wood Fragrance
This fragrance has been in the bathroom at work for the last couple of weeks and i've fallen in love with it, so hopefully i'll find some!

5 | Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush
i've asked a few people for recommendations on what to pick up and this has definitely had the biggest response, so i'll be going a bit swatch crazy at the Tarte stand in Sephora! 

6 | Makeup Forever Full Cover Extreme Camouflage Cream
i actually saw this in Tanya Burr's latest favourites and it sounds like it's right up my street, so i'll give it a little go!

7 | MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Adored
i swatched this when i visited a MAC store last month and instantly knew that this would be my next purchase, so i'll probably pick this up in duty free to save a few pennies. 

8 | Crochet TOMs
i'm not a fan of regular TOMs, but it seems that if you do anything in a crochet version, i'm bound to end up wanting it... 

9 | Becca Pressed Shimmering Skin Perfector
i think this is top of my list. the shades on the Sephora site all look stunning, so i'll definitely be spoilt for choice and maybe end up with two...

10 | Topshop Jumper
i know i could pick this up in the UK, but i've put aside a fair bit of spending money so will be able to pick this up a little more guilt free! 

11 | Stila Countless Colour Pigment
i think the mix of natural shades will make the perfect go-to eyeshadow for me, so i'm hoping this is just as good in person! 

12 | Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar
another cause for going swatch crazy. i've read so many good reviews on this lately in the bloggersphere, so this is another product that i'll be giving a whirl! 

i have limited internet access still whilst i'm away, so if any of you have any suggestions on what i should try out or where is good to shop, then please drop me a comment! 


Wednesday 28 August 2013

The Haul Post

another haul post today! this will honestly be the last one i do for a while (she says, already planning a Barcelona and birthday haul...) as i'll be back off to uni soon and my lowly student budget.
i feel like i'm finding myself making excuses quite a lot lately, but i am once again sorry for the quality of these pictures. by the time i get home from work, i'm out of good lighting so this is the best i can do!




i'll kick it off with clothing. after starting to make plans for my 21st, i knew it was probably time to start looking for a dress and i finally settled on this white Margery Lace Swing Dress from Missguided. i've had my eye on it for a while but never had the occasion for it until now. 
as with any haul i post, there is of course the usual ASOS loving. this time i picked up the Floral Swing Dress and this gorgeous Swing Playsuit. the dress is perfect for that summer/autumn transition and looks fab with sandals now, but will work just as well with tights and chunky boots when it gets a bit colder. i love the detailing on the back of the playsuit, and you would never know that it wasn't a dress once its on! i'll try and get some OOTD's whilst i'm on holiday to show you what they're like. 



i've finally picked up some new jewellery recently, too. the necklace was an unexpected find in Story Twenty One and was just £3.99, so it would just be rude to leave it behind. they also had it in silver which i think will sneak its way into my possession too. i then picked up these Midi Rings from New Look and am particularly getting a lot of wear out of the rose gold ones. 



i was after a little, boxy tan bag to see me through the winter, and saw this one on Ebay for just over £15 from a foreign seller. i've seen a really similar one since in H&M for the same sort of price if you want something a little cheaper and closer to home! i've also been looking for some black sandals for most of the summer as all i have is flip flops and wanted something a little more fashionable, so when i saw these Strappy Buckle Sandals on the Blue Inc website for a mere £12, they were soon winging their way to me in the post. they've taken a bit of wearing in to stop the rubbing, but i wish i'd found them sooner in the summer!


another Barry M Gelly Nail Paint is now mine and this time i picked up Passion Fruit. i bought Mango at the same time, but can't find it anywhere for the life of me now! i also gave in and bought the Bourjois Bronzing Primer and i don't know why i didn't pick it up sooner. i think i might like the smell even more than the actual bronzer...

and that's where another chunk of my poor bank balance has gone! what have you guys been picking up lately that you think i'd like?


WHERE TO BUY
Missguided Margery Swing Dress | £29.99 | link
ASOS Swing Dress in Mono Daisy Print | £28 | link
ASOS Swing Playsuit in Floral Print | £30 | link
New Look Midi Rings | £3.99 | link
Tan Bag | £15.90 | link
Barry M Gelly Nail Paint | £3.99 | link
Bourjois Bronzing Primer | £9.99 | link



Tuesday 27 August 2013

The Accessories Post | Prairie Charms Floral Headband




i'm a girl who loves her florals and over the last couple of summers, so many floral crowns/headbands have caught my eye but have just been too big for my little old head. then i saw Ellie from Style & Starbucks video on summer and festival inspired hair looks and fell in love with her slightly daintier version and immediately went on the hunt. Ellie's was from Crown & Glory and was a little out of my budget for something that i wasn't sure if it would suit me or not, but then Prairie Charms got in contact with me about their blogger collab project, so i jumped at the chance. i went for the Suri crown because i thought the white would be fairly neutral and the easiest to wear as a bit of a 'floral crown beginner', and so far i'm loving it. as part of the blogger collab, i picked it up for half price and am really trying to work it into a lot of my outfits. i love the fact that it's on a metal band rather than being an elasticated piece because it feels so much more secure and i won't be fiddling with it all day. i definitely want to pick up something with a little more colour in it now. 
now with the pictures below, please accept my apologies for the poor quality, but i have no tripod for my camera so had to take them on my laptops webcam and i really wanted to include some pictures of how i've been wearing mine...


if anyone can recommend me anywhere to get something similar in a more adventurous colour, then just drop me a comment below!

Prairie Charms Suri Crown | $18 (around £11.50) | link



Monday 26 August 2013

Sharing The Blogger Love

firstly, sorry i fell off the blogger radar for a few days this week - i've been back interning and then had a bit of a hectic weekend and just haven't had the chance to sit down and write up posts. i suppose you could say i've had a life for a change. but while i was gone, i hit my second milestone on the blog - 200 followers! it's so crazy that my number of followers has more than doubled in the last two months, so i thought i'd celebrate with a little 'Sharing the Blogger Love' post and share with you the blogs i've been enjoying recently! there's a mix of fashion, beauty and lifestyle and i hope you will all find some new favourites through this post! i've read a lot of posts similar to this recently and have found so many new blogs through it, so thought i'd spread a little love!



Blog | link
Twitter | @nicolavc86

Nicola mainly beauty blogs and i am always finding myself lusting over the bits she blogs about (most recently MAC's Lady Danger lipstick, dammit!). her reviews are precise and to the point and i really love her photography style which i will be taking some inspiration from for the next time i try to take lipstick swatch photos. 


Blog | link
Twitter | @ellieetc

Ellie has just come back to her blog after a little break, and i really missed her posts whilst she was gone! i love that she has big pictures on her blog (which are also super good quality) and i'm not left squinting at tiny little pictures. i've particularly been loving her recent haul posts and have ended up with huge clothes envy and in desperate need of another shop now i have some more inspiration for my holiday wardrobe. 


Blog | link
Twitter | @chloesway

if pink and girly is on your agenda, then Chloe's blog is where you need to be headed. it has such a gorgeous, girly sanctuary feel to it and i always get lost in her posts. my favourite recent post is her Autumn Outfit Wishlist and i love the contrast of a girly dress which edgier accessories. 


Blog | link
Twitter | @style_starbucks

i honestly love everything about Ellie's blog, i couldn't fault it if i tried. i've spoken to Ellie a few times on twitter and she is the loveliest girl and i don't think she gives herself enough credit for her blog and videos! her sense of style is impeccable and i am now lusting big-time over this neon Topshop number from her latest #OOTD

Blog | link
Twitter | @CosmeticCrave

Hannah's blog is my go-to page for honest, in-depth and helpful reviews. she never leaves any aspect of a product untouched, and i really loved her review on the Bourjois Rouge Edition Lipsticks and how many pictures she included; it was so useful to see the shades on someone with a similar skintone! Hannah is also great for decent sized photography, too! 

Blog | link
Twitter | @thelovecatsinc

Helen fashion and beauty blogs, and my favourite kinds of posts from her are her #OOTD's - not one goes past without my bank balance cowering in anticipation! she styles things the way i would really love to, but just can't pull off, so i feel like i kind of channel my ideal style through her! i really like her simple editing of photos with adding text to them as i think it gives her blog just that little something extra!


Blog | link
Twitter | @apairandaspare

no-one that i have come across does DIY posts quite as good as Geneva. jewellery, clothing, interiors - you name it and there will be a tutorial on how to make it yourself. the guides are so easy to follow, and i can only hope that some of the things i am yet to attempt will come out as well as Geneva's! the DIY transparent satchel is at the top of my list. her interior inspiration posts are also to die for and just make me want my own house to decorate already! 

Blog | link
Twitter | @CRMcAneny

Charissa's  is by far my favourite fashion blogger that i've come across since i started blogging and have been subscribed to her as long as i can remember. i've found that a lot of fashion bloggers seem to forget about the high street when they blog, but i love that Charissa always seems to favour the high street, meaning i can actually afford to go and buy similar pieces when she's inspired me (and also end up with a very long H&M wishlist!)


Blog | link
Twitter | @pinkpixiedoll

any MAC purchase which is made next week when i hit duty free and their Barcelona store can solely be blamed on Milly (particularly this Mineralized Skinfinish in Adored!). Pearls & Poodles is easily one of my all time favourite blogs and i've really loved watching it grow and change over the years. I actually went to school with Milly's little brother and remember him telling me about when she had just set it up, so i guess you could say some of my inspiration for starting to blog came from reading and loving Milly's blog. Her photography is to die for and she's recently left me with a wishlist of highlighters as long as my arm. 



Blog | link
Twitter | @emilyjbenton

Emily's beauty posts are some of my favourites out there - we seem to have really similar tastes in the types of product we pick up, and always end up finding new things to snap up when I'm over on her blog. i am also in love with how Emily styles the backgrounds for her photos and she does it in a way that i've seen no-one else do it before - they look do chic and professional and make me wish i was more adventurous in my photography!


so there we have my favourite bloggers at the minute! i always love to find new blogs, so please, please, please leave your links below and the links of any other blogs which you've been loving too! 






Wednesday 21 August 2013

The Review | Elemis Tan Accelerator



one of my woes in life is my pasty skin. i'm sure i could sit in the sun every day for a year and still not be tanned, so i thought i'd give this Elemis Tan Accelerator(*) a bit of a whirl. the general idea behind this is to boost the natural tanning agents in the skin before you hit the sun so that your skin is in tip top prepped condition to get a tan. it's not a fake tanning product, simply a moisturiser which naturally boosts the amino acid 'melanin'.
this is said to be perfect for sun-sensitive skin which is prone to burning *raises hand* so i am super excited to see if this works for me and helps me get more of a tan than usual. i set off for my first holiday in less than two weeks now so i've started applying this every evening to prep my skin. it does say it acts as a low level sunscreen, but because i burn within minutes, i'll still be using normal tanning lotion.
i'll do an update post to this in one of my holiday posts to let you know how i got on with and whether i noticed any difference!


Elemis Tan Accelerator(*) | £21 for 125ml | buy here


Sunday 18 August 2013

The OOTD | Missguided Kacia Swing Dress

Lips | Barry M Lip Paint in Sunset     Sandals | Primark     Watch | ASOS

i'm gonna kick off this post with a couple of apologies. my blogging schedule has been a bit all over the place the last week or so, and this could well carry on for the next few weeks due to me not being home much this week and going back to intern for a couple of weeks to. i go straight on holiday from my internship, so i'm really hoping i can keep up with drafting posts for you over the next few weeks, but please know that if things get a bit quiet, then this is why!
second, is the awful quality of these photos, which is entirely my fault for not checking them before uploading. with my rents on holiday for a week i had to quickly get my mum to take these for me yesterday before they set off, so we will have to make do!
but yes, i just wanted to share this gorgeous Missguided Kacia Swing Dress with you all. i'm really into the swing dresses that are around at the minute, and (even though you can't tell because i didn't even think to take a picture in the rush) the low back on this one makes it a little different! i always find myself wearing a fair old bit of monochrome too, but this floral print breaks up my usual block colours and gives it a more summery vibe. this will definitely be off on my holidays with me next month and be a summer staple.

as a bonus, for today only (19th August) Missguided are offering FREE NEXT DAY DELIVERY with the discount code 'AUGFREE'

do you guys have any summer staples?


Kacia Swing Dress | £14.99 | buy me here



Saturday 17 August 2013

The Review | Maybelline The Mega Plush Volum' Express Mascara



before we go any further, yes i know that this isn't 'new' anymore. sorry for being a bad beauty blogger and not getting round to reviewing this quicker, but i've seen so many mixed reviews on this that i wanted to throw mine into the mix.
for any of you who haven't heard of this before, this is the Maybelline The Mega Plush Volum' Express Gel-Mousse Mascara. in simple terms, the gel-mousse formula means that there is 40% less hard wax which is supposed to give extra volume which enticed me in, along with all the hype that was around this when it released.
but i wasn't really impressed. first off, i usually only use waterproof mascaras, and at the time there wasn't that option with this. i found that it flaked off my lashes and gathered under my eyes. i didn't think there was all that much volume either, and i have other mascaras which give my lashes more of a boost. maybe it's the flexi wand that i just didn't get on with (which, in my opinion, is far too 'flexy' to get a decent grip and coat on your lashes) which is to blame, but for a mascara that promises extra volume, i was let down. 
the only thing i could recommend this for is a 'no-makeup makeup' look. i'll try working with it a little more, but i don't think this will be repurchased!

have any of your girls tried this? if so, what did you think?


Maybelline The Mega Plush Volum' Express Mascara | £7.99 | Superdrug/Boots



Thursday 15 August 2013

The Review | Hi-Tec Luca Trainers


any of you ladies who have been following my blog for a while will know that since way back in January, i have made many a pledge to get fit and do more exercise, yet here we are in august with barely any exercise done. who knew that all the motivation i would need is to own possibly the brightest trainers in the world?!
since the Hi-Tec Luca Trainers(*) have come into my life, i have found myself wanting to go to the gym (i have never willingly wanted to go to the gym in my life) and a little run around my local estate may have happened. i've also been wearing them for the last few days at work where i'm on my feet for most of the day, and these are the comfiest pair of shoes i have ever come across. they're fairly padded and made from a material that really moves with your feet, so there is no discomfort throughout the day. they are also super lightweight. i haven't actually owned a decent pair of trainers from probably about ten years, and i remember any trainers i owned back then being really clompy and making my feet feel really heavy, but these problems have been banished with the Luca's. for all i know, i could be wearing my slippers, they really are that comfortable.
and who can resist the colours?! owning these has definitely given me a more positive outlook on working out and toning up, and had i known a pair of trainers is all it would take, i would have bought some a long time ago! i really couldn't fault these trainers if i tried; if you're after a fashionable, affordable and high qualiry trainer, then look no further.

see you at the next Olympics, okay?




Hi-Tec Luca Trainers(*) | £39.99 | link



Tuesday 13 August 2013

The Review | B. Pure Micellar Water


ever since Bioderma became easy to get hold of in the UK, lots of brands also seem to have jumped on the 'Micellar Water' bandwagon, and i've gradually been working my way through them all. my current choice is B.Pure's Micellar Water, from Superdrug's own brand.
as with when i was using Bioderma, i've been using this as a cleanser after removing my make-up with a wipe. i find that it gets rid of the last traces of make-up that a wipe never quite grabs, and leaves my skin feeling clean and fresh. a definite bonus with this, is that it's suitable for all skin types, no matter how sensitive. this bottle has also lasted me a good couple of months at least, so you won't find yourself constantly re-stocking yourself. it's almost always on some sort of offer any time i've been into Superdrug too, so won't go breaking your bank balance. 
since adding a micellar water to my skincare routine, i've found that my skin is generally a bit clearer than it used to be, and it's now something that will always be in my skincare routine. This one by B.Pure is a perfect cheaper alternative to Bioderma, and is just as good. next on my list is L'Oreal's version - have any of you girls tried this one?


B.Pure Micellar Water | available from Superdrug stores and online | £4.99 for 150ml


Sunday 11 August 2013

The Review | Elemis freshskin


happy sunday, fellow #bbloggers! 
another skincare related post today, with these products from Elemis. you may or may not know that one of my main skin woes is the odd pesky breakout, and when i do get a spot it will more than likely fall into the beastly, unattractive category with those that don't want to budge for over a week. so when Elemis offered me the chance to try out some of their products, i was instantly drawn the their freshskin range and settled on trying their Skin Clear Mattifying Moisturiser(*) and Skin Clear Treatment Gel(*). of the two, i'm definitely more impressed and have noticed more results from the treatment gel - i don't know about any of you, but i feel like i've been looking for years for something that really combats my spots quickly and effectively, but have never found anything that works or does as it promises, but this does just that. i've found that this really brings spots and blemishes back down the the skin surface and really dulls down any redness around the area. i've been applying it morning and night where i need it, and within 3-4 days any spots have completely disappeared with no sign that they were ever there. before, i've found that i can still have a mark from blemishes almost a month after they first turned up, so this has really improved my skins appearance. i've also been using the moisturiser every morning and found that since starting to use it, my breakouts have been a lot more confined and popping up less often, so i'm really hoping that a continued use of these two may finally banish my blemish blues. 
i'd never actually used any Elemis products before this, but after being so impressed with these two products, i will definitely repurchase and try out some other bits in the range. i highly recommend the treatment gel if you're after something to combat your spots.

whilst we're on the topic of skincare today, I'm currently taking part in Sophia from Tattooed Tealady's #MyLittleSkincare Project. Along with 14 other bloggers, three suffering from each of the five skin types, we will be discussing our skincare histories and product recommendations with you guys. if you'd like more info on this then there is a little banner over to the right somewhere for you to click through to. the project kicked off with the first post from the 'Dry Skin' bloggers today, so if you'd like to check that out then just click here. I'm taking part in the 'normal' skin category, and my first post will go live September 8th, so keep an eye out then!



Friday 9 August 2013

The Review | Bumble and bumble Thickening Range




my collection of hair products is dominated by two particular products - salt sprays and supposed volumising products. i say supposed, because i've never found anything that actually works for me. my hair is fairly thick at the ends, and where it's so long nowadays, it just drags my roots down leaving them looking flat and just not all that great. after falling in love with the majority of products i'd tried from a particular brand these little beauties in the form of Bumble and bumble's Thickening Range(*), left me with high expectations.
my usual woe with thickening/volumising products is that they always seem to be visible in the hair and leave it looking a little greasy, even after washing, so the fact that this Mousse(*) and Creme Contour(*) don't do that had my hopes high. i've been using the mousse in towel dried hair and working about a golf ball sized amount through my roots before blow drying it in. when my hair is sort of half dry, i apply not even a pea sized amount of the creme contour again to my roots and give them a bit of 'juj-ing' before finishing my blowdry. the creme contour is quite thick and can be very heavy on my hair when i use to much, so i tend to start off with a tiny bit and build up as necessary. it's also great for a midday lift when roughly applied to the roots. 
these two products give me just the little bit of lift i was looking for - my roots end up being a bit thicker than they did before and preventing the dreaded flat look that i'm used to. they don't leave my hair feeling dirty, and when blow-dried in, my hair is still as silky soft as it would be without the products in my hair. with a thickening hairspray launching at the beginning of next month, i'll definitely be stretching my pennies out to get some, especially if it's as fab as the rest of the range! 

which products do you girls use to give your hair that extra boost?



Wednesday 7 August 2013

The Haul Post | Forever 21, ASOS, H&M and more...

if you read my blog then you'll know i can resist nothing more than a good haul every now and then! this little big bundle is from a few different shopping trips and built up over a few weeks, and not all in one go (although a trip to Westfield is always a dangerous one...), so i thought I'd share my most recent purchases with you all. no doubt i'll end up posting another haul just before i go away on holiday with my last minute purchases, so shall see you all for another haul post then, but in the meantime let's apologise to my bank balance and look at these beauties...  p.s. picture heavy!


up until recently, i have never been an eyeshadow-wearer or worn anything on my eye except for eyeliner and mascara, but i thought it was about time this all changed so i'm breaking myself in lightly with really neutral shades. i went to the press day for these Collection Eyeshadow Pencils and knew the minute i saw them that I'd be buying them, especially at just £3.19 (the pictures wrong, sorry!). i've been enjoying using Hot Chocolate as a liner on my upper lids, and Vanilla Sky as a highlighter on my inner eye. I also picked up this H&M Nudes Palette because I think it will be great for travelling and cover any eyeshadow needs i shall have on my holidays.



now i am an avid ASOS shopper, so when an e-mail dropped into my inbox about a certain little 30% off beauty sale we all knew it was going to end badly. i didn't realise how many drugstore brands they actually stocked, so i picked up a few bits whilst i could get a little more money off than by regular student 10% in superdrug. i'd had my eye on Barry M Lip Paint in 151 Sunset for a few weeks so this went in my bag straight away for just £3 and my oh my is it the purdiest little colour you ever did see! it's such a wearable, everyday red shade with orangey undertones and i am in l-o-v-e! i also nabbed a Bourjois Blusher in 95 Rose de Jaspe because i can never resist me a blusher, especially when it's only £5.50, and the Bourjois Delice de Soleil Bronzing Powder for Fair/Medium skin for £6.50 because i've managed to lose my other bronzer at my boyfriends house!


if you read my latest monthly update post, then you'll know i'm determined to expand my makeup collection at the moment, and i've done a pretty good job with lipsticks so far! being a One Direction fan, of course i couldn't resist picking up some bits from their latest collab with MUA (which i doubt they even know they've done...) and i went for two of the lipstick shades - I Want (Liam) and Be Mine (Harry). Kiss You is my ideal lip colour and the exact shade i would usually go for - an orange based red which actually has a shimmery sheen to it, which you can't see in the swatch - and being a Harry girl, i couldn't not get Be Mine which is a gorgeous deep red shade which will be perfect for winter. these were just £3 each, and although they aren't particularly moisturising, they sure have some staying power! i also ordered another lipstick with my ASOS order but forgot to photograph it all together, and that came in the form of Barry M Lip Paint in 161 Flamingo Peach. although it looks very similar to I Want in the tube, it's actually a lot more sheer and a pink based coral rather than a red. again, this one was reduced to just £3.



my next make-up purchases come in the form of this Accessorize Merged Blusher in 5 - Sensation and the L'Oreal Super Liner Brow Artist Pencil in Blonde. 'but you're brunette!' i hear you all cry, and this was my thought too, but the brunette shade just looked too dark on my brows and the blonde actually matched the current powder i use to fill my brows, so there you go. this was £5.49 and i'm looking forward to trying it out. the blush was £4.95 and is a gorgeous shimmery pink which i actually picked up to use as a highlighter which looks fab with a really light dusting!


i picked up a few skincare-esque bits recently too! with my holidays coming up soon, i want something that's a little lighter on my skin that a foundation, so after trawling through many a review, i settled on the Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream in Light and picked it up on offer in Superdrug for £6.66. I've only used it a couple of times and am really liking it so far. I also picked up Garnier's 5 Sec Perfect Blur and i will admit that i bought this based on a super convincing advert for it in a magazine, but have since learned it is also Louise from A Sprinkle of Glitter's favourite primer too, so i very much trust her judgement. it is doing a good job of evening out my skintone in the week or so that i've had it, and last time i checked it was on offer in trusty old Tesco for £8.88. the L'Oreal Micellar Water  was on a half price offer, so i picked some up to try as i'm almost out of my current one (which i shall be reviewing soon!) and just a repurchase of some Batiste Blush Dry Shampoo because i'd just run out!


have you noticed i've gone a little bit make-up mad recently? sometimes i just feel like i need a new nail polish and NYC's Expert Last Nail Polish in Mint Macaroon satisfied those needs for a mere £2.49. i also made a little trip to B&M Home Bargains the other week and they had some really good make-up deals in there. i picked up the Revlon Age Defying Moisturising Concealer for (i think!) £2.99 and Maybelline's Instant Anti-Age The Eraser Foundation for £3.99 (£9.99 in Superdrug!) and they were both in my super pale shades! I'm actually really liking the Maybelline foundation and the foam dome applicator is perfect for application. shopping trip bargain went to Primark's Lip Gloss Crayon which was either £1 or £1.50 - a steal either way - and i picked up this gorgeous orange shade. going on a bit of a foundation frenzy, i also picked up Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation. this has been on my list of foundations to try out for a while and a Savers offer of all Rimmel being less than £5 was the perfect opportunity to pick it up. i didn't get on with it at first, but am now really enjoying it and can see why it is a cult favourite. i also picked up the new GOSH CC Cream Illuminating Foundation on an introductory offer of £6.99 in the shade Porcelain and this is the best colour match i have ever, ever found for my pasty skintone and i think this may be my new all time favourite foundation - highly recommend it!


i picked these up after watching one of Alix from I Covet Thee's videos (link here) - Skin Doctor's Ingrow Go and Hair No More, designed to inhibit hair growth and remove ingrown hairs and razor bumps. there was a similar product i saw a few months ago from Sally Hansen, but it was impossible to get hold of in the UK and shipping from abroad was a fortune, so i'm super glad to have discovered these! a lot of people are shocked to find out that i have to shave my underarms everyday, so i'm hoping that this will help, and also put off how often i need to pay out for waxing! i also sometimes suffer from a pretty unattractive shaving rash, so home the Ingrow Go will help with that. these were actually fairly expensive (i thought so, anyway!) on the Skin Doctors website at £12.20 and £10.20 each, but after turning to the trusty Amazon, I found them for just £6.40 and £5.61, so basically half the price! these have only just arrived, so i can't say if they work yet, but shall review them once there's a result! 



have i mentioned my holidays are coming up? every year i buy more bikinis than i will need, and this year was no exception. the first two are from Florence & Fred @ Tesco and were a steal at just £12 and £13. i've actualy bought F&F bikinis for the last couple of years now, somewhere i never would have thought of looking before. this ASOS Macrame Bikini Top is my favourite bikini find EVER. i really didn't need it, and it was a little pricey at £16 for just a top but the back detailing just made me fall in love one hundred times over! sure, it's really unpractical for tanning, but i don't care. i just don't. the last one is actually a bra from H&M which i again, just fell in love with for no apparant reason and couldn't leave behind. i can't usually buy bras from the high street as i'm such a awkward size, but this was in clothing sizes, so i sized up a little and found one that fits. it's too nice to wear as underwear, but i can't wait to wear it under some sheer shirts! 


these Zara High Waisted Denim Shorts have ended a three year (no exaggeration) search for a pair of denim shorts that actually fit me! i was so happy to have found some that i queued up for almost half an hour to pay and am so happy my search is finally over. this is actually my first ever Zara purchase, and i'll definitely be looking in there more often from now on. 


a couple of dresses i've picked up are this Primark Midi Dress. i'm still not 100% sure on this, but think it will be great for the evenings on holiday as the print means it doesn't need much accessorising! i'm just after a statement gold necklace now to jazz it up a little. i'm also in love with the swing style dresses, and picked up this Missguided Kacia Dress. it's super long, so i will need to take it up, and i now also have a Missguided dress wishlist as long as my arm. and my other arm. and probably both my legs too!


my last two buys were this Forever 21 Dressing Gown and H&M Cardigan. i'm actually going to wear the dressing gown as a coverup/kaftan on holiday and it was reduced due to it no longer having a belt with it, but after some rifling around at home i found this thick white rope which makes it look a bit more beachy! the cardigan is a gorgeous burgundy maroon colour, and i've been after a knitted cardigan since the end of Winter just to throw on over some dress when it's a bit chilly.

and there's another haul done! i'll probably pop another one up just before i go away on holiday because there is no doubt i will end up spending some more pennies before then on some last minute summer buys! have you girls been doing any shopping lately? if you've done a recent haul post then drop me a link below because they're my favourite sort of post to read! 


WHERE TO BUY
Collection Eyeshadow Pencils | £3.19 each | link
H&M Nudes Palette | £3.99 | link
Barry M Lip Paint in Sunset | £4.49 | link
Bourjois Blush in Rose de Jaspe | £7.99 | link
Bourjois Delice de Soleil Bronzing Powder | £8.99 | link
Garnier BB Cream | Still on offer for £6.66, usually £9.99 | link
MUA One Direction Kiss You Lipstick in I Want | £3 | link
MUA One Direction Kiss You Lipstick in Be Mine | £3 | link
Barry M Lip Paint in 161 Flamingo Peach | £4.49 | link
Accessorize Merged Blusher in 5 Sensation | £4.95 | link
Garnier 5 Sec Blur | On offer for £8.66, usually £12.99 | link
L'Oreal Micellar Water | Still on offer for £2.48, usually £4.99 | link
Batiste Dry Shampoo | £4.99 | link
NYC Nail Polish | £2.49 | link
Revlon Concealer | £5.00 | link
Primark Lip Crayon | £1/£1.50 | in-store only
Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation | £8.99 | link
Maybelline The Eraser Foundation | £9.99 | link
GOSH CC Cream | Still on offer for £6.99, usually £8.99 | link
Skin Doctors Ingrow Go | £6.40 | link
Skin Doctors Hair No More | £5.61 | link
Florence & Fred White Crochet Bikini | £12 | link
Florence & Fred Palm Print Bikini | £13 | link
ASOS Bikini Top | £16 | link
H&M Bra | £9.99 | Check in-store
Zara Shorts | £22.99 | Check in-store 
Primark Dress | £10 | Check in-store
Missguided Kacia Dress | £14.99 | no longer online
Forever 21 Kaftan | £9 | Check in-store
H&M Cardigan | £14.99 | link