Snapshot Sunday #3

Winter part two!

Snapshot Sunday #2

This week I have raided my snaps an have gone with a 'beside the seaside' theme. I love a bit of time with my camera, only wish I had more time for it!

Damson Dream

In a bid to save money I am sticking by my 'rediscover old treasures' mission and am starting with Boots No7 Stay Perfect nail polish in 'Damson Dream'. This is not a new purchase and I got this for a few pounds with one of the £5 No7 vouchers. It is also available for a few pounds on EBay. The colour is a warm plummy shade which has a slight shimmer. It needs a few coats to appreciate the depth of the colour but it also looks pretty with one coat for a more sheer version. I think I will be coming back to this shade over winter! The only downside is it does not wear for a huge amount of time without scuffing but if, like me, you like changing colours frequently, this shouldn't be a problem.

Scrimp and Save

Well this is not exactly the kind of post I planned on writing and given that my blog is so new, not one I wanted to write. Have come to the realisation that my finances need to be sorted so that means less spending for me! I love trying out all the new things I find calling me on the shelves but in the spirit of saving money, I have decided that at least in the short term, my blog will have to chart my attempts to rediscover the copious amounts of beauty products I already own. No doubt ill still treat myself to odd bargain bits but I'm considering this a challenge and don't want to let it put me off continuing with the blog.

Here's hoping my efforts pay off! (Literally!)

Extreme Eyes!

I thought i'd share one of my go to favourite products that I always re-buy when it's finished. That product is the Collection Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Liner. At £2.99 it is a complete bargain and performs better than some of the pricier alternatives. I love the felt tip style liners as they are easy to apply compared to the inkwell style ones and with a steady hand you can get a range of line styles. What I particularly love about this pen is how long it lasts. I have used similar pens at a higher price point that have begun to fade on application very quickly yet this pen does line after line and the lines remain dark and well pigmented. The liner does last all day though I have no intention of wearing any eye products for 24 hours! It is also available in a peacock green shade and a purple-plum colour. I do own these and the green especially really does last! So much so that no amount of eye make up remover would shift the green tinge off my eye lids and it took well into the next day for the green eyes to disappear! So I guess if you do want to wear your make up all day from start to finish them you won't go far wrong here!

£2.99 Superdrug/Boots

Wake me up before you go go!

I'm a big fan of anything that can give the illusion of having had a good nights sleep and have tried a range of products. My ultimate favourite is YSL Touche Éclat closely followed by the Boots No7 version so this has a lot to live up to! The shade I bought is 'ivory' as I went for a lighter shade (the next shade up was too pinkish for me). On application it is smooth and gives good coverage. It does give a glowy effect and a hint of the 'anti-fatigue' promised. It definitely awakens the eye area which is a plus and the doe foot applicator I have always found to be effective (like in my other favourite concealer by Collection). Is too soon to say if this will make it into by repeat-buy list but am going to give it a good try!

£5.49 Boots (bought as part of their buy 1 get 1 half price offer so was cheaper)

Magnetic Nail Paint Barry M

I have heard good things about these magnetic polishes but was reluctant to try them after a disappointing experience with similar polishes in the Boots 17 range. However I am now converted! I love how the range has a range of patterns and colours available and I plumped for 'Moondust' with a diagonal stripe which is a metallic bronzey gold shade. It applies well and the effects really do match those promised on the lid. The instructions recommend one coat then a second coat with the magnet hovering over for approximately 5 seconds. The resulting effect is eye catching and effective. If you're after a quick and easy way to create different nail effects then this is the way to go!

£4.99 Boots

Undressed!

Am a bit late to the 'undressed' palette party and have been intending to buy this for quite sometime yet have never got round to it.

The MUA palette consists of 12 shades ranging from 'pretty nudes to smouldering metallics'. They are presented in round pans in a plastic compact. It does include the obligatory sponge applicator though it wouldn't be my application method of choice! There are smokey eye suggestions on the reverse though there are any number of smokey eye combinations you could create. At £4.00 this palette is an absolute bargain. I'm too stingy to splash out on the Urban Decay equivalent so this is a real purse pleaser. Having used these palettes in other colour themes I find the consistency to be good and the pigmentation to give good coverage. They are very bendable and easy to apply even by those looking for quick application. If you should pass a MUA stand then I would definitely recommend spending four of your hard earned pounds on this palette!

£4.00 Superdrug

Berry Vamp!

To recap my previous post, I have recently become determined to get to grips with berry lips! I was browsing my local Superdrug when I came across this 'Berry Vamp' lip liner pencil by Look Beauty. This is the first product in their range I have tried and it hasn't disappointed. The liner is soft and easy to apply and the pigmentation is of a good, deep quality. The pink packaging is different to a lot of other pencil cosmetics I own and it appeals in its pastel pink tones. At £4.00 it is a cost effective way of introducing berry shades. It is ideal as a liner but is soft enough to use cross the entire lip area. I shall definitely explore this range further!

£4.00 Superdrug

Berry-licious!

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable in 'Crush'

I have long been a fan of these crayon style offerings from Revlon. They are a cheaper option that Clinique's Chubby Sticks. With the colder weather upon us I have been experimenting with berry shades. This is daunting for a nude lip/pink lip fan so the Just Bitten crayons are a good way of easing me into darker shades. The packaging is also very appealing with its twist up silver end and tight fitting lid (no berry stains in my handbag!). The pigmentation is good for the type of product and is there is a better colour pay off than similar berry stick shades in the Soap and Glory range. The more you apply, the deeper the shade. The finish is glossy but not sticky and feels nice on the lips. I can easily see this becoming a winter favourite!

£7.99 Superdrug

Snapshot Sunday #1

In my spare time (not that I have much of it!) I'm a keen amateur photographer so thought I'd use my blog to share some of the ones I'm most proud of.

This week the theme is winter!

Too many??

Boots 17 Mirror Shine Lipstick

17 Mirror shine lipsticks have undergone a little makeover! Having used them in the previous incarnation (Shine On) I was keen to try out the new version. The shade I went for is 'Beehive' and I have to confess that the name is what prompted me to buy it as it evoked images that were a bit Bardot-esque!
The lipstick itself is a nude pinkish shade not dissimilar to my old favourite (but discontinued) Bourjois 'rose balniere' lippy. The finish is glossy but not overly pigmented though it gave enough colour to satisfy my colour craving. The new packaging includes a built in mirror which slides out if the lid which is very handy, neat and compact. There are now a wider range of shades in the range and I counted roughly 17 shades. The Shine On lipsticks are also available on the website though being so similar, I imagine these will replace that line.

RRP £4.79

Barry M Glitter Polish

I went on another sparkle spree today and treated myself to two Barry M glitter polishes.

The first shade is 'Pink Sapphire Glitter (no. 352).

This polish consists of pink and holographic silver particles suspended in a clear polish. The polish is presented in the normal Barry M style bottle of which I'm a fan. It is simple and functional with a good sized brush. The particles vary in size and give a good coverage with a couple of coats. I'm not a fan of glitter polishes worn alone so would wear this over a black polish or a pink shade to give it more of a kick.

The second shade is 'Amethyst Glitter' (no. 354) which is different in texture to Pink Sapphire. The glitter particles are smaller and if the more traditional variety. There is a mix of silver, turquoise, red and purple particles in the clear polish and, compared to other glitter polishes I've tried, gave a good coverage in one coat. Again, I would use over a coloured base but this gave enough sparkle to tempt me to wear it alone.

The polishes were £2.99 each and were today in sale in Boots as part if a buy one get one half price offer so there's a bargain to be had if you fancy some sparkle.

Collection Bedazzled Nail Effects in Glittersweet

This little beauty caught my eye while doing my weekly food shop and I couldn't resist a little bit of nail bling.

The shade I bought is no.4 'glittersweet' which is a turquoise and silver mix suspended in a clear polish.
When worn, the glitter particles spread out quite thinly so you may require a second coat if you wanted more coverage in terms of sparkle. I would be tempted to wear this over a glossy black polish rather than on its own. In terms of packaging I'm not a big fan of the larger round lids as I don't find them as precise in the application process. The brush gives a reasonable coverage despite being quite thin. Personally I would have liked a thicker brush for speedier application.

Overall I would say at £2.99 RRP it is a bit of a bling bargain and is worth a buy if you like twinkly talons!

Information from Collection:

- Available in four fabulous shades, these glitterfully glamorous pots of polish deliver complete shimmering glimmer.

- Multi-tonal and multi-functional

- Powerful-punches of light-reflecting lacquers to keep you dazzling all the way to the dancefloor!

RRP £ 2.99

P.S sorry for the lack of swatches but my nails are less than camera ready at the moment and wouldn't want to scare you all with my mitts!

Kardashian Arm Kandy!

I have to confess that the Kardashians are a guilty pleasure of mine and when I was presented with the opportunity with an early chance to buy a piece of the new Kardashian Kollection at Dorothy Perkins ( on general sale November 8th) I couldn't resist. I am a fan of anything Kardashian and eagerly awaited the arrival of my purchase...

I bought the Blush Pink Small Tote bag at £45.00. It is a gorgeous bag and in real life is more of a nude colour so don't be put off by the 'pink' label. It has a gold studded side panel and decorative zip to the front, with a KK gold logo and is plain on the reverse. It comes with a pair of carry handles and a detachable chain shoulder strap. It has a Kardashian embossed logo on the inner lining and inside are neat little pockets, ideal for mobile phones, lipglosses etc, and a zipped compartment. Overall the bag is a reasonable size and has enough room for my usual everyday bits and bobs though there is a larger version in black for anyone who is a carrier of more 'stuff'.

The bag is synthetic materials rather than leather but is sturdy and well made. There is attention to detail and it arrived neatly wrapped and protected.

I am thrilled with my bit of KK arm kandy and can't wait to view the rest of the collection. I am however disappointed that despite being marketed as being for all shapes and sizes, the clothing only runs to a 16 which is no good for curvier ladies.


Kardashian Kollection Blush Pink tote £45.00.

That Sunday Feeling

This Sunday's mood is much different to last Sunday's mood. Being a teacher, the first Sunday of a holiday always brings with it a chilled out and optimistic mood where as this Sunday brings a less cheerful mood. It gets harder and harder to find energy for the coming week when the nights are darker and it is colder outside but am spurred on by all of the christmassy things coming up (of which there are many when you work with children). I can't help but find their excitement infectious and look forward to the carol singing and decoration making!

Get ups remaining? 35!