Autumn Haul - Boots, Shoes and a Coat

Hi everyone! Another haul post for you today - I seem to have spent so much money this month! I think I'm the same every year when the weather starts to get colder, I feel obliged to shop until I've got everything I could possibly need for the autumn and winter seasons!

One of my more practical purchases has been these amazing high leg boots from New Look. At my new job I drive in but have to park about 10 minutes away from work which hasn't been the nicest walk when it's been chucking it down with rain and I've ended up with very wet feet!

I decided to try and find some sensible but stylish boots that I can wear to walk in, that aren't so boring I won't wear them on the weekends too. After spending hours trawling the internet and looking around the high street I settled on these ones from New Look. They are the highest boots I own and actually come up to my knees (unlike other 'knee high' boots I've owned) and they have the chunkiest, well made soles I've seen this season! I have poorly knees which means wearing shoes and boots with thin soles is a bit of a no-no, so these were ideal!

As you can see they're a little bit slouchy when worn, which I really like about them. I think the silver zip and buckle details give these boots a nice edge and they would look great worn on the weekends with a skirt and leather jacket. I bought these from New Look for £34.99 (HERE) which I think is pretty reasonable for such comfortable, practical and well made boots that I can also wear with more stylish outfits.

Another sensible pair of shoes - these loafers are also from New Look and a practical choice. I usually wear heels when I'm at work but on the days when I want to wear flats I don't actually have that many to choose from. I spent a little while looking around for some I like that aren't just basic ballet flats (again with the issue with thin soles!) These loafers are really comfortable and the soles are quite thick, plus this style is bang on trend this season and I think they'll look super cute with some tailored trousers for work. These were £19.99 from New Look HERE.

My last footwear-related purchase is these amazing lace ups from Topshop. I am incredibly partial to velvet, especially velvet footwear, so when I spotted these in Topshop I fell for them immediately. I love the lace up style this season and think these will look amazing with frilly socks and tights.

They're really comfortable and have quite good grips on the soles which means I should hopefully be able to wear them throughout the winter whatever the weather! I think these were a real bargain from Topshop (not something I often say!) because they were only £28.99 (HERE).

Last but by no means least is this snuggly, gorgeous coat. I know, I know, I really don't need another coat because I already have way more than I wear on a regular basis. But there was just something about this one that I couldn't resist! I picked it up when I was shopping for my boots as a bit of an impulse purchase but I really don't regret it. It's slightly shorter than my other warm coats and very different. It's actually made from a soft jersey material, which makes it more of a cardigan than a proper winter coat but I quite like that about it. I love the belt because it brings me in at the waist and the snuggly collar is the best! I've already worn this out in the cold snaps we've had in the UK this September and it has kept me snuggly, stylish and warm. This is usually £39.99 from New Look but I bought it when it was on offer for £29.99 HERE.

Are you like me - do you always splurge at the beginning of autumn? Where have you been finding bargains?

xx

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Kensington High Street Haul

Hi everyone! Thank goodness it's Saturday - this week has been a tough 'un! Today I'm sharing with you a haul from a couple of weekends ago when the boyfriend & I tootled on down to Kensington High Street. If you're new to London, or planning a touristy visit soon, I cannot recommend Kensington enough if you're looking for a stress-free shopping experience. It's the opposite of Oxford Street and the perfect way to while away a sunny Spring afternoon...

Our first stop was Topshop, where I had hoped to pick up a new highlighter but I was disappointed to find all the products in store had been 'tested'. What is with that?! It's so annoying! Anyhoo, I was in a bit of a spending mood and decided to have a peruse of the rest of the store, and came across this bad boy. I've seen denim skater skirts in almost every other high street shop, but this one is just that little bit nicer. It's quite a heavy denim which gives the skirt a pretty shape when worn, and I've been wearing it with sheer black tights and my Dunlops. I'm hoping once it's warm enough it'll also be cute with bare legs *gasp*! This was only £20 from Topshop, online HERE or in store.

The other shop we popped into was Boots (of course, do I ever shop and not go into Boots?! Does anyone?) I needed some more face wipes and lucky me they were on three for the price of two! Whilst in the skincare section I noticed this offer was on all products, and decided to pick up a few bits from the Boots Botanics range, as I've never used anything from it before.

My current face wash feels like it's running a little low, so I picked up a foam wash and an exfoliator to replace it with when it finally conks out. I also grabbed the eye make up remover, because my current No7 fave is almost empty too! Don't you just love it when products run out and you can justifably purchase new ones?! Just me? Ok...

You can pick up any of these products from Boots online HERE or in store. I'll be trying these out in the coming weeks and reviews will be up soon (i.e. in a couple of months...)

Do you love justified purchases too? What have you bought recently?

xx

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Lips and Nails - Boots haul

So I think we can all safely say that my May spending ban went a little bit down the pan... this is one of a couple of hauls I have coming up over the next few days to share my recent spends with you.

I popped down to Oxford Street one Friday after work to pick up some new Collection lipsticks after watching Emily's video (HERE) sharing her favourite lipsticks. Emily is a total style icon and beautiful gal - I've always wondered what lip products she uses because she never fails to look stunning, flawless and classic. So off I trotted with the intention of only picking up a couple of lipsticks...

Whilst in Boots I spotted the limited edition Maybelline Color Show top coats, which were on offer and buy one get one half price! Being the total nail obsessive I am, I couldn't resist popping three colours in my basket, plus an extra black and white as a gift for my secretary. Only £2.99 you can buy them in your local Boots store.

Here are the four Collection lipsticks I ended up purchasing, woops! Two were recommendations from Emily but the others were on off 2 for £5 and I couldn't resist!

I picked up two Volume Sensation formulas in Pretty Please & Cherry Pop, and two Lasting Colour formulas in Valentine & Mango Tango. I'm hoping to have some reviews up pretty soon, but if you can't wait that long then the Volume Sensation lipsticks are £2.99 each from Boots online HERE or in store, and the Lasting Colour lipsticks are £2.99 from Boots online HERE or in store.

Have you made any accidental drugstore purchases recently? What did you pick up?

xx

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Boots Vitamin E Night Cream

Hi everyone! Today I'm reviewing a product that I've actually been using for a really long time, over a year now. It's the Boots Vitamin E Night Cream.

I originally bought this way back when I worked for Boots two years ago. I was looking for a purse-friendly night cream which wouldn't break out my skin and wouldn't make it feel greasy. I hadn't used any night creams before this one, so I didn't really know what to look for or what to expect. The antioxidant claim on the packaging stood out to me and for only £3.05 I decided to take a punt.

The cream comes in a little plastic jar which reflects the cheap price tag, but it doesn't bother me too much. As I said, I've owned this product for a couple of years but in that time I have only used it consistently every night for the past 6 months.

In terms of consistency, it's a little thicker than a regular day moisturiser but not so thick that it's a chore to apply to the skin. It sinks in really quickly and leaves my skin feeling soft, fresh and calm (which is important when I've used a more intensive cleanser before bed). In the time that I've used this I haven't had any break outs and no greasy effects either - both in winter and Spring this night cream has done the job in terms of keeping my skin moisturised and happy.

I would really recommend this product to anyone who, like me, would like to try a night cream for the first time without forking out too much. It's a good starter product and would suit most skin tones (in my opinion). You can buy the Boots Vitamin E Night Cream  for £3.05 online from Boots HERE or in store.

Have you tried a night cream before? What's your go-to brand?

xx

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Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick - Fire & Ice

Morning all! I am too excited to share this lipstick with you! This was the lipstick I bought for my Marilyn Monroe fancy dress make up, as I wanted something by a reputable brand that would last all night and not dry my lips out. I looked at some reviews and eventually decided to head into Boots to swatch Revlon's 'Fire & Ice'.

The packaging on pretty much all Revlon make up is simple and chic, and this feels much more substantial than my other cheaper brand lipsticks, for example Barry M. But as this retails for £7.49 my expectations were high!

I must confess, the main factor in my decision to buy this lipstick was that it was on offer for £5 in Boots at the time, and I managed to leave buying my Marilyn lipstick until a couple of hours before I needed to be heading out! A rushed decision, but one that I do not regret!

Again, the packaging is classic and stylish and I really like it. Fire & Ice is a very true red lipstick - which was perfect for me when I bought it as obviously Marilyn was famous for her statement red lip! 

You can see the colour is just gorgeous. The consistency of this lipstick is very creamy (but it doesn't melt like some other creme lipsticks I've tried) and it applies beautifully either from the stick or using a lip brush (which is how I applied my lipstick for accuracy reasons). It lasted and lasted and lasted, although I did top up 2-3 times over the course of the evening (7 hours), but that was primarily because I was drinking and causing the colour to fade.

I am fair skinned but love making a bold statement with a red lip and this shade was ideal for me, it really suited my skin and did not wash me out or make me look like a clown. If you're on the market for a fabulous red lipstick then look no further - you have to try Fire & Ice! Buy from Boots in store or online.

What is your favourite brand for red lipstick?

xx

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I Want Never Gets... Boots

I could not believe how cold it was when I was walking home from work last night! The ground was icy! I know it's been like that for a while in other parts of the country but in London it takes a while to catch up when it comes to the weather! The coldness inspired today's posts on boots - essential footwear when it's below freezing out!

These snake print chelsea boots are fab - I love the simple twist on an classic popular style. I think these would look great with almost anything as black is such a versatile colour to wear with most of the shades for autumn winter. £138.99 from Jules B Click!

There's something about fake fur trim on a boot that always gets me - it makes these look super cute and cosy! Although I'm still not able to wear heels I think wedges would be a sensible choice, and I like the neutral colour of these. They're be great for wearing with a leather skater skirt and big oversized blazer for a Christmas catch up at the pub! £149.95 Click!

These are technically more shoes than boots, but nevermind! I love how unique and quirky this style is - certain to set you apart from the crowd! I think these would look amazing with some skinny jeans and a dressy top for Christmas day or a casual New Year's Eve! On offer at £198.74 from Jules B Click!

I do love a good lace up boot, and these are some of the best I've seen! I like how the calf of the boot is shaped to fit your calf - nothing worse than seeing someone wearing a beautiful pair of boots that fit her like a pair of wellies! I find myself buying a lot of tan footwear as opposed to brown as I think tan goes with that many more colours and looks classy every time. I'd love these boots to find their way into my winter wardrobe this year! £174.99 Click!

Finally, when I was slip-sliding my way home from the train station I was wishing I'd had the sense to pop on a sensible pair of biker boots to keep me from falling on the ice! These ones fit the bill nicely, and I'd easily be able to wear a nice chunky pair of socks too to keep my toes toasty and warm! £178.99 from Jules B Click!

What style of boots have you been wearing the most this winter?

(Supported by Jules B)

xx

Ebay o'clock!

It's that time again... I'm having yet another massive eBay clearout, so check out my seller page for clothes, make up and Christmas present ideas! Here's a little glimpse of some of what I'm selling:

Hairdryers:

 Christmas Gift Ideas:

Partywear for Christmas & New Year:

Casual wear for winter:

Brand new make up:

& even random menswear!

Check it out - I hope you manage to grab a bargain!

xx

Boots Haul: No 7

Here is the second half of my Boots haul. I've already posted about the bits I bought from Ruby & Millie, so this post is on the No 7 eye make up items I also treated myself to!

First up is this gorgeous eye shadow palette, its called the 'Define & Shimmer Eye Palette'. This was £7.12, reduced from £9.50. Linky!

You get 4 eye shadow colours and a pretty decent 2 ended applicator brush in this set. I've taken photos of each end as it has a slanted end and a curved end - this is a brilliant idea and the brushes are very good quality to say they came in a palette. I'm very impressed by this attention to detail from No 7.

The colours themselves are quite unique - I haven't come across a selection quite like it and I certainly don't own anything similar to the olive-y green shade. I've swatched them on my inner arm to show you, and here's a photo taken in sunlight to demonstrate the shimmery tones:

 

[please ignore the random shadows on my arm!]

I really like these colours. The pearly white/cream isn't the most pigmented eye colour I've seen but it will definitely be useful for highlighting and creating a more multi-faceted eye look. The green as I've said is SO different to any green I have I'm really excited about creating a look around it. Its very shimmery so will be perfect for a night out. The two darker shades are really nice too and might be good for incorporating into a more natural daytime look. They're quite bold and nicely pigmented.

Overall I feel that this palette was superb value for money and I can't wait to start experimenting with the new shades! I also love the mini double ended brush that came with the set - so much better than those crappy sponge applicators you get with other brands!

 I also bought this set of Metallic Eye Liner Pencils, 5 colours for £10.12, reduced from £13.50. Linky! I bought the pencils in the 'Candy Cane' range as I thought the blues and greens would be more appropriate for me as I already use these colours on my eyes quite a bit.

Here are the pencils - they're quite small but you do get a nice range of shades and they are all gorgeous shimmery metallic colours. From top to bottom: Candy Lavender, Candy Lime, Candy Blue, Candy Green & Candy Pink.

 

Here are the shades swatched in the same order as pictured above. Apart from the Candy Pink shade, I was very impressed by the soft application and consistency of the bold colour with these pencils. I especially like the two greens and the darker blue, which will be great for a night out combined with the colours I got in the eyeshadow palette & also some of the Ruby & Millie shadows I posted about previously. Not too keen on the Pink but it does come out as more of a cream shimmer which is quite versatile and might be useful for opening up my eyes when used in a natural day look. 

I would definitely recommend these pencils - I think they're very good value for money and the shades are nice and varied. There's nothing worse than buying a set of pencils that turn out to be variations of the same colour!

xx