Bargain Of The Fortnight #4: Boxing Day Haul

It seems like this feature had an unintended break. Oops! Now the festive season is nearly over normal schedule will return.
On Boxing Day I got up bright and early to go to the sales. It was so hectic but worth it because I'm very happy with all the bargains I got. Here they are!

Soap and Glory Glow Business Set £30 £15:

This includes the Fab Pore Hot Cloth Cleanser (£10), You Wont Believe Your Eyes Serum (£10.50) and Bright Here Bright Now Radiance Balm (£11). I'm very happy with this purchase as I needed a new eye cream and a hot cloth cleanser. Considering how much these products cost each and how pretty the tub will look in my room it was an amazing bargain. I can't way to see if it perks up my dull skin!

Sanctuary Spa Gift Set £20 £10:

I picked up this gift set for my Mum because she loves Sanctuary products. It contains a body wash, body scrub, bath soak, body lotion  body butter and hand cream. The body wash and body butter are full size and the rest are minis.

                                                               

Vera Wang Princess Eau De Toilette Gift Set £34 £22:

Sorry for the stock photo! I ordered this online from Boots on Christmas Eve (ridiculous I know) for store pick up so I have to wait until New Years Eve to pick it up. I got a sample of this in the Manchester meet up goody bag and  have been using it almost everyday. I love that it lasts literally all day which is pretty rare for a perfume never mind an Eau De Toilette. Normally I'd never have considered this but that's the beauty of samples.

Lush Snow Fairy Shower Gel, Party Popper Bath Bomb and Golden Wonder Bath Bomb

All this came to £6.24! All the Christmas products were half price and as soon as I payed at the till I wished I'd gotten more.  Zoella has raved about Snow Fairy shower gel before so I decided to pick it up. It smells like pear drops! I love Lush but this is the first time I've tried their bath bombs because I thought they are expensive and I  thought I wouldn't like bath bombs . Last night I used the Party Popper and I am converted. This could be the start of an obsession!

Topshop Cut Out Cross Dress £38 £15

It was so hard to photograph this dress! It is a silver grey colour with a gorgeous gold metallic sheen.The photo is the back of the dress otherwise it would be very revealing! It has a gorgeous cut out cross detail on the back. I may do an outfit post because it looks so much better on.

Topshop Checked Shirt £32 £18

To be honest £18 isn't really a bargain but I've been wanting a checked shirt for ages and the colour and fit of this is perfect. It has cute gem like studs on the shoulders and it is soft material. Perfect for a comfy college outfit.

Did you get any good bargains in the sales?

Thanks for reading!x

What I Got For Christmas!

As I'm a very nosey person I love seeing what everyone else got for Christmas. This year I was lucky enough to be treated to some lovely presents from family and friends. Of course this is in no way bragging and I am extremely grateful for everything I have received.

Lush Moustache Bubble bar, Sweetie Pie Shower Jelly

Covergirl Lash Blast Fusion Mascara

Elf Eyeshadow Brush, Foundation Brush, Mist and Set Spray

Maybelline Baby Lips in Pink Punch, Grape Vine and Cherry Me

Topshop Oh La La Lipstick

Stila Lipgloss Set

Benefit Erase Paste

Elle Make Up Bags

Bohoo Slimfit Onzie and Amazon Goat Hot Water Bottle

FUJIFILM FinePix HS30 Bridge Digital Camera

The camera was my main present of my parents and I'm over the moon with it. I had to pay £150 towards it which I got from College for the voluntary work I do. This is the most expensive portable thing I own!

What did you get for Christmas?

Thanks for reading!x

Festive(ish) Nails Of The Week

Recently lots of bloggers have been posting pictures of amazing Christmas nail art and I wish I had the patience or the skill to do that but I really don't. Instead I used Essie All Tied up which I was lucky enough to win in a giveaway from Lauren. Its a lovely brown toned pink with some slight gold shimmer but to make the nails more festive I added a lot of a H&M gold glitter top coat. You can never have too much glitter at Christmas time!

Sorry for not posting for so long! I've been really busy with festive things and it's so hard to find time in day light to take pictures.

Thanks for reading & Merry Christmas!x

Nivea Express Hydration Primer Review

When it first came out there was a massive hype about the Nivea Express Hydration Primer in the blogging sphere. Conveniently my moisturiser ran out at the same time so I picked it up instead of a normal moisturiser and after a month of use I have pretty mixed feelings about it.

In case you don't know this is basically a primer and moisturiser in one. It is fantastic for using in the morning when you are in a rush because it absorbs instantly. I love the fact I don't have to wait for moisturiser to sink in because I'm always running late. It's very moisturising and leaves a nice smooth base for make up but I can't tell if it makes my make up last longer. However it has a thick gel texture so when it is first applied to the face and rubbed in it feels very greasy but this doesn't last for too long. It still makes the application pretty unpleasant in my opinion.

The fact it is a tub rather than a tube makes it much easier to get the exact amount out and avoid waste. But the glass tub is very heavy which means it isn't great for travel. It seems a bit daft because surely a two in one products is meant to be perfect for saving space when travelling! It does only costs £5 which is cheap especially considering you're saving money not buying a primer too.

Overall I think this product is okay but it does have disadvantages. When it runs out I don't think I will repurchase it mainly because it feels so greasy when I first put it on. I really want to love it but its not quite there yet Nivea!

Have you tried this? What do you think?

 Thanks for reading!x

Oxfam Charity Gifts

Today's post is a bit different from the usual because it isn't fashion or beauty related. I wanted to tell you about Oxfam's Charity Gift schemes.

The idea behind this is instead of buying someone a Christmas present that they don't really need you buy people in poverty a present instead. This can range from a share in a farm yard, a goat or safe drinking water. The prices range from as little as £5 to £100 with lots of prices in-between so it is suitable no matter your budget.  When you have bought the gift you get a card with more information and it can be personalised. This can be sent directly to their house or to you to put under the Christmas tree so they still get a present to open on Christmas day.

During Christmas it is so easy to get consumed by materialistic desires for things we don't really want or need. Your money can make a huge difference to peoples lives and after all it is the Christmas spirit to help others. This is the perfect present for the person who has everything or the person that is famously hard to buy for (Dads I am looking at you). Plus it is pretty impressive to tell people you got someone a goat for Christmas!

To see the full range of presents and prices click here for the Oxfam website.

What do you think of this scheme? Have you bough anything from it before?

Thanks for reading!x

Mac Lipstick Collection

Today I am doing a Mac Lipstick collection post because I love seeing what colours everyone else has. There is such a huge colour range it can be over whelming when you're at the counter. Back when I was a young whipper-snapper  I was so scared to get a Mac lipstick for the first time because all the formula's and colours confused me. Aww bless. I only own four Mac lipsticks which is nothing compared to some people who have a ridiculous amount.  Four is enough to call it a collection at least!

Creme Cup was my first ever Mac lipstick. The colour is a wearable everyday pink with blue tones which makes your teeth look whiter. It is a cremesheen which is my favourite. It's so creamy and glossy looking but it only lasts a couple of hours. In the bullet it has a gorgeous sweet almost fudge smell! When it runs out, which properly wont be too long as I use it so much, I will definitely repurchase it.

Next up is Please Me which is a matte finish. I love the way matte lipsticks look. It still as a creamy texture and it isn't drying. Out of all of them this is properly my least favourite. It is a lovely colour but it doesn't have the same wow factor. If you're on a budget Pink Pout from Revlon is a great dupe for it.

Russian Red is another matte lipstick. I once worse this for a night out and didn't even need to touch it up the whole night. Impressive! I love the berry tone to this that stops it from being a super harsh colour. Like any red lipstick it definitely needs to be applied with a lip brush first to stop it looking messy. This lipstick is a sort of special to me because I got it to celebrate getting my braces off!

Last but not least is Full Speed. It is part of the sheen supreme range hence the different packaging which I hate because the lid is a bugger to get off! The formulation isn't quite as smooth as a cremesheen but it lasts for much longer. The bright coral colour is gorgeous and very pigmented.

Do you own any Mac lipsticks? What is your favourite?

Thanks for reading!x

The Perfect Contour

Finding the perfect contour products can be difficult. But I have found the best contour powder for only £5! Let me introduce you to the NYX Blush in Taupe.

I've been using this for a while now after seeing EssieButton rave about it. It has an ashy colouring which makes it perfect for less harsh contour. Using bronzer can cause an orange look particularly for people as pale as me. I apply this with the Real Techniques contour brush underneath my cheek bones, up to my temple and just below my jawline.The blush blends like a dream. It has good pigmentation without being so pigmented it is difficult to work with. The only down side to it is the packaging is pretty awful. It looks cheap, the writing is fading off and it's a nail chipper to open. It only costs £5.50 from the NYX UK website or $6 in the US which is an absolute bargain. If you are on the hunt for the perfect contour powder for pale skin then this is it. 

Do you like to contour? What do you use?

Thanks for reading!x

Manchester Bloggers Meet Up

Yesterday some Northen bloggers went to a meet up at Harvey Nichols in Manchester. It was an evening of sophistication! We were greeted with drinks and a goody bag to make us feel the part. All the counters had little things running so I tried out lots of different products. My Christmas list has grown a lot, I blame Benefit. There were some talks from Bobbi Brown and Creme De La Mer which were really interesting because we found out more about the brands background and ethics. Also I ate my first ever macaroon which was a momentous occasion I'm sure every one will agree. 

The best bit was meeting all the lovely people. It was so good to meet lots of other bloggers to chat to. Sometimes its easy to forget internet folk are real people! I was particularly happy to meet Joanna from mintyessence.com as I've been reading her blog for a little while now.  A few of us went to Pizza Hut afterwards and I have to say I know feel much more educated on politics thanks to Charlotte!

Annoyingly I didn't take many photos though. Bad blogger!

Alice is so regal

All the make up was so tempting!

Ignore the curtains and the terrified expression! Charlotte, Sam, Demi, Joanna and Nafisha.

Thank you so much to Katie for organising it and Harvery Nichs for having us. It was a fantastic evening all round.

Thanks for reading!x

Spexy Giveaway!

I'm excited to tell you that Firmoo, an online glasses company, recently contacted me to offer 25 lucky readers a $20 voucher. That means you could get a pair of prescription, fashion or sun glasses for free or treat yourself to something pricey with the discount code! If you want to read a review I did of some Firmoo sunglasses then you can click here.

The vouchers are valid until Christmas day so I will be giving out the vouchers until then. It is an international give away.

All you have to do to enter is be a follower of my blog and email me at megancarpenter@hotmail.co.uk . I will give the first 25 people the $20 voucher!In the mean time you can browse threw to select the glasses you want on firmoo.com

Thanks for reading! x

♡Haul- Superdrug, Boots, TK Max & Blog Sales♡

At the moment I am saving up for AA riding pants so I shouldn't really be doing a haul! Nothing broke the bank at least. In fact most of these were a pretty good bargains and boy am I a sucker for a bargain. Anyway on with the haul!

Revlon Lip Butter £1, Mac Full Speed Sheen Supreme Lipstick £2, Illamasqua Blaze Lipstick £5,
Laura Mercier Camilla Lip Glace £4, Bare Esecentuals Precision Brush £1.40 

You may recognise these from my past post Bargain Of The Week #3. Everything is from blog sales! My favourite of the lot is the illamasqua lipstick because I would never have picked it for myself but it looks gorgeous on. The Laura Mercier lipgloss  is amazing colour, texture and lasts for a good few hours, perfect! I've been getting good use from the brush as the tapered end is perfect for bring eyeshadow below the lash line. I'll admit I haven't had a chance to try out the lip butter or Mac lipstick yet but I love the Mac lipstick as again I wouldn't have picked it out. It's so easy to get stuck in a comfort zone.

Jemma Kid Rose Palette £4.99

I picked up this Jemma Kidd palette from TK Max a couple of weeks ago so I'm not sure if there will be any left. It did come with a lipstick but I sold that in my blog sale as the colour wasn't for me. The eyeshadows and blush have a gorgeous creamy texture and blend so well. The colours are all wearable and flattering for my pale skin. I love it!

Sleek Au Natural Palette £7.99

Another palette I picked up the other day. Going to College so close to Boots and Superdrug is dangerous for a beauty addict! I've heard so much about this and sleek in general so it was time to give it a go. The colours are quite dark so I'm looking forward to seeing what looks I can create.

Lee Stafford As Ruff As You Like £5

Finally I caved in and spent some of my boots points. I recently got my hair cut into a very short bob so I wanted a wax product that would give it some texture to avoid the bowl cut look. It isn't sticky but it gives texture that lasts all day. So far I love it!

Have you tried any of these products?

Thanks for reading!x

Bargain Of The Fortnight #3

From the picture you may be a bit confused about how these high end products can be a bargain. Well I bought them all from blog sales! Just look at the amazing saving I made.

Mac Full Speed Sheen Supreme Lipstick - £2 (Originally £14.50)

Revlon Peach Parfait Lip Butter-£1 (Originally £7.99)

Bare Escentuals Precision Brush-£1.40 (Originally £24.00)

Illamasqua Blaze Lipstick-£5 (Originally £16.00)

Laura Mercier Camellia Lip Glace-£4 (Originally £18.50)
Click here to see swatches 

As you can see I made huge savings. Admittedly its not like I would have bought any of these in the shops but I definitely would have lusted over them. All the products have plenty left and I know I will get good use out of them. Blog sales are full of bargains and are a great way to try out high end make up if you're on a budget. This is the first time I've tried Illamasqua and Laura Mercier and I absolutely love them!

Of course I can't resist the chance to throw in a plug for my blog sale which you can click here to have a nosey at.

Have you bought anything from a blog sale? Are you having your own?

Thanks for reading!x

Firmoo Sunglasses Review

 I have to admit I had never even heard of Firmoo glasses before but after a bit of research I discovered they are a big online glasses shop. Currently Firmoo have free (!!!) glasses and sunglasses available. I was sent the glasses free of charge to review them but all views are completely honest. I could never lie to you!

The sunglasses arrived about 10 days after order which is pretty good considering they came all the way from China! I know that my order was rushed for the purpose of this review so there is a possibility that it could take longer for other customers. I'm not a fan of the cheap plastic case it came in but the glasses sleeve looks and feels more expensive. I'd have no shame in wiping it out my bag.

 The actual sunglasses are lovely. They cost $40 normally but are pair from the free glasses range for new customers. The colour is gorgeous and the anchor style detail really finishes the over all look.  I was impressed that you have to fill in the distance between your pupils to ensure correct fit. As with buying anything online there is the risk of it not suiting you but to help this you can virtually try on the glasses by uploading a picture onto the site. However I found in real life they looked extremely different on. The sunglasses are reasonably comfortable to wear although I'll have to wait for a holiday to be able to get proper use out of them!

At the moment Firmoo have a range of glasses that you can get for free including prescription glasses and sunglasses.All you have to pay for is the postage and packaging. This is great value considering the glasses normally cost up to $40. Christmas is quickly approaching so a pair of prescription glasses or sunglasses would make a great present. Click here to check out the range of free glasses available or click here for the firmoo home page to find out more.

Have you tried Firmoo glasses before? What do you think?

Thanks for reading!x

Please May I Have #1

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FOTN: Prize Giving

My first face of the night! Well it was evening really but you can pretend. I'm rubbish at taking pictures of myself so I've used one that a friend took instead hence the slightly mad looking friend in the background and odd facial expression.

Last night was prize giving at my old high school so I went to collect GCSE certificates. It's so weird going back now I've left! We had to walk across the stage to collect our envelopes but somehow I managed not to fall which is always a bonus.

So here is the slap I put on my face. It was only a smart casual dress code so I didn't go to over the top.

Face: Estee Lauder Double Wear in Ivory, Collection 200 concealer, Bare Minerals Mineral Veil, NYX Taupe blush, Sephora Orange Punchy Sun Baked Blush, Mac  Pearl Cream Highlight

Eyes: MUA Heaven And Earth Palette,Maybelline The Falsies Flared Mascara,Urban Decay Ink For Eyes in Zero, Rimmel Khol liner,MUA Blond Brow Pencil

Lips: Rimmel Red Diva Exaggerate Lip Liner, Mac Russian Red

Nails: Filthy Gorgeous - Beebe

Thanks for reading!x

Current Skin Care Routine

I've been deliberating over whether or not to do this for a while now, but I decided to bite the bullet and do it. I'm not particularly interested in skincare nor is my skin perfect but I do have a regular routine consisting completely of high street products. My skin is normal/dry.

Daytime

Good Things Face Wash-
The first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is was my face with this creamy cleanser. It lathers well and has a strong fruity smell which may not be to everyone's taste. Personally I really like this but I cant tell if this has caused an improvement for my skin or its just the time of the month.

Nivea Daily Essentials Rich Moisturising Day Cream-
A fantastic rich day cream. It sinks in quickly and deeply moisturisers the skin. It does have a slightly floral scent which I'm not keen on. The worst thing about this is if I don't wear make up on top it makes my face look so oily and greasy. Not good!
As you might be able to tell from the picture I have just come to the end of it so I have bought the primer version but I didn't want to show a product I haven't had a chance to properly try out yet.

Boots Vitamin E Eye Cream-
If you want to know more about eye creams you can click here to read a whole post explaining them. This one has a thin consistency. It isn't fantastic, I much prefer the Balance Me sample of eye cream, but for £2.54 it's a great money saver.

Soap And Glory Scrub Of Your Life Exfoliator-
I exfoliate at least twice a week to clear the pores of dirt and dead skin. It makes a big difference the next day as skin looks brighter and it helps breakouts as well as giving smoother skin. Before this I had the Scrub Your Nose In It exfoloiator which did a better job at exfoliating and brightening the skin.

Good Things Facial Mask-
I love the Lush Brazened Honey Mask but the short shelf time created too much waste. So instead I got this mask which I actually have only used a couple of times. It doesn't give amazing results but my skin is softer and brighter afterwards.

Night Time

Simple Cleansing Lotion-
I have tried a few different cleansing lotions but I always come back to this. It removes make up whilst feeling creamy and luxurious despite the fact its so cheap! Because it is fragrance free it is fantastic for sensitive skin.

Garnier Wipes-
I prefer to use wipes to take eye make up off because it is much easier. These are okay but to be honest I just get whatever is on offer because they all seem the same to me.

Simple Moisturising Face Wash-
Again this is good for dry sensitive skin. I wish it lathered up a bit more but other than that its a nice face wash. Nothing too special about it!

Simple Vital Vitamin Night Cream-
Another Simple product! I love the brand because I have sensitive skin and a small skin care budget. It is a very rich cream so I only use it on the dry-est areas of my face which are around the nostrils, jawbone and along the eyebrows. When I did use it on my face it broke me out. I will test using it out on my whole face again but if it does cause a break out I'll have to replace it for winter.

Lush Grease Lighting-
I only use it at night because sometimes it can cause a tiny bit of flaky skin. To read a full review you can click here.

So that is my skin care routine! Its nothing special but I thought I'd share it with you anyway. If you have a post on you're skin care routine link it below as I always enjoy seeing what other people use. What is your holy grail skin care product?

Thanks for reading!x

Bargain Of The Fortnight #2

On the cheeks with no highlight

This fortnights bargain is the MUA Blush Perfection Cream Blush in Bitter Sweet which I featured in  a recent haul that you can click here to read.
Since buying it I have used it every single day which shows how much I like it. I apply it to the cheeks using the real techniques stippling brush. It gives a gorgeous pink glow to the cheeks as you can see in the picture to the left. Used lightly it can look natural but the colour is build able. I've been using it as a base for the Bobbi Brown Pink Sugar blush to make the colour more vibrant as well as making it last all day. For £2 I really cannot fault it. If you haven't got your hands on one of these yet then grab one soon. I will definitely be picking up more colours!

Have you tried it yet? Had any good bargains recently?

Thanks for reading!x

Eye Creams Explained

Until recently I never used an eye cream  I hadn't really understood the purpose of eye creams as I had associated them with an older ladies product to help with wrinkles. It wasn't until I went to Bobbi Brown to try out the corrector that the make up artist explained the importance of eye creams. If you already use and know about eye creams then this post may not be for you but if, like I was, you're a bit clueless then keep reading.
An eye cream should be used every morning with your moisturiser. It makes the area feel softer and more plump. If you don't use one then the skin 'sucks' up the moisturiser from the concealer you use causing it to crack and appear dry and flaky. Using an eye cream prevents this from happening and also keeps the delicate skin hydrated in the cold winter months to come. Some eye creams can claim to brighten the appearance of your eyes however from reviews and personal experience they don't always work. The prices can vary from £2 from boots ( like mine) or £35 from Origin. I find the the boots own one I use does the job well considering the price is so low. If you're not already using an eye cream I recommended you try one and you should see the benefits straight away.

Do you use an eye cream? What's your favourite?

Thanks for reading!x

Leibster Blog Award

On one of my last posts I was 'nominated' for the Leibster blog award by Hayley from http://lastyearsheroxo.blogspot.co.uk and Erinn from http://discountbeauty101.blogspot.com . Thanks to both of them! If you don't know the Leibster award is an award for bloggers with under 200 followers that other bloggers nominate them for. It works sort of an award chain mail.

So, here is the Leibster award, and how it works!
- Each person must post 11 things about themselves
- Answer the questions the nominator made for you and also create 11 more questions for the blogs you nominate
- Choose 11 people and link them to your post
- Go to their page and tell them.
- No tag backs

So first of all I'll answer Erinn's questions:

1. Why did you start blogging?
I'd be interested in make up for ages but I didn't really have anyone to chat about vain things to. Another reason is too meet lots of new people with similar interest which I have done so far. I would have started youtube but to be honest I was way to scared for that & I doubt I'd much good at it.

2. What is your fall/winter favourite accessory?
A huge warm snuggly scarf. I get cold so easily so I have to be practical.

3. What is your favourite Starbucks drink?
Caramel Coffee Frappicino in the summer. Its so sweet! I don't get hot drinks from there because in my opinion they aren't great but I love Costa ginger bread lattes.

4. What is your favourite candle scent?
Anything vanilla. I have 3 different types of vanilla yankee candles on the go at the moment. You can click here to read about one of them.

5. What is your favourite kind of flowers to receive?
I've never received flowers so clearly I am unloved! 

6. Do you have any pets? If so what kind?
A cocker spaniel dog. She farts a lot.

7. What is your must have beauty product?
Concealer! I cant go out with at least concealer on.

8. What is your favourite food?
I love too much food to name it all

9. Do you prefer drugstore or high end skincare products?
I've never tried high end skincare products before

10. What is your dream job?
Something that isn't in an office & involves some travel so every day is different

11. What is your favourite holiday?
I went to Thailand this year which was incredible but going to Texas to visit family on my 16th birthday was unbeatable.  

Next Erinn's questions:

1.What is your must-have item of make-up?
Concealer. I cant go out without it!

2.Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?I have no idea

3.What's your favourite food? Sushi, Mexican, etc..?Chinese. It's a classic.

4.What made you start blogging?I answered this one above

5.When you walk into a make-up store, what's the first stall you find yourself going towards?The lipsticks, they are always displayed so pretty

6.Name your three favourite blogs. Essie Button
Lip So Facto
Beckawoo
7.What's your favourite season?Autumn by far. English summers are too disappointing and I get cold so easily in winter.
8.If you could choose anywhere in the world, where would you live?I really want to live in London one day.

9.How independent do you think you are? Fairly. I can cook basic food, do washing & I get public transport all the time

10.If you were an animal, what would you be and why?A goat because I frickin' love goats.

11.What's on your Christmas list this year?Alien perfume.

I nominate:

http://andthislittlepiggybeauty.blogspot.co.uk/

http://anillla.blogspot.co.uk/

http://hiyaitslaura.blogspot.co.uk/

http://beckawoo.blogspot.co.uk/

http://lifeinlipstick.blogspot.co.uk/2012_10_01_archive.html

http://mammafulzo.blogspot.co.uk/

http://gottobebella.blogspot.co.uk/

And my question for them are:

1. Why did you start blogging?
2. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life what would it be?
3. If you could only have five make up products what would they be?
4. What is your favourite way to pass a spare hour?
5. On average how long does it take you to get ready in the morning?
6. When you're out shopping what is your weakness?
7. What is your favourite make up brand?
8. What has been your best holiday ever?
9. What is your favourite tv programme?
10. Do you want/have any pets?
11. What is your favourite thing about blogging?

So this has been a really long post today, sorry about that! 
Thanks for reading x