Latest Beauty Buys

My lovely readers,

I apologize for the long absence, hope to make it up with a new post and the promise of becoming a serious and constant blogger.

When I went to Superdrug to buy something for my birthday I had a very precise idea of what I wanted: to buy the Sleek Makeup Lagoon palette before it was too late [it's a limited edition from the Spring Aqua Collection], a coral lipstick and something I really needed like a concealer or an eye primer.

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When leaving the store my small loot consisted of: MUA Pro-Base Conceal and Brighten Kit (nailed it!), MUA Power Pout in Runaway (nailed it?) and a gorgeous blush by Sleek Makeup: Pomegranate (not planned).

Unfortunately the Lagoon palette was not available in store (you can still find it - and the l.e. blush Mirrored Pink as well - on the website) because there was the new limited edition Candy Collection, which palette is lovely and quite similar to the Lagoon one, so now I have to decide which one of them to buy (or if to buy both of them would be a good idea). 

I wanted something from Sleek makeup so badly that I switched my interest to their blushes (always wanted to try one) and I started swatching them on my arms. The limited edition Blush By 3 - Sweet Cheeks has lovely colours, but I'm currently in a more shimmery mood; I was going for their famous Rose Gold blush but it was sold out, so in the end I purchased Pomegranate and even if Rose Gold is on top of my wish list now, its berry brother has already stolen my heart.

lovely, isn't it?

Then I had a quick look at the Rimmel counter, I swatched all the Apocalips and some Kate lipstick but the more interesting shades were missing their testers and if there was a tester, the product was sold out.

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I finally moved to MUA and I bought their Conceal and Brighten kit in the shade porcelain-beige (I was looking for a concealer for some time and I read some good reviews of this one) and their new Power Pout lip tint and balm in the shade Runaway, which looked coral inside the store and turned out a lot less orange on my lips. Love the shade but I'm still looking for my perfect coral lipstick.

Last but not least, I took advantage of a promotional birthday discount on feelunique.com and ordered a Real Techniques Starter Kit and a Rimmel by Kate lipstick n. 19; hope to show you these last buys soon ^^ 

And now I have a question for you, my lovely readers:

what kind of post would you like to read next time?

A review, a look, a food recipe or something else?

Let me know with a comment <3

Mini Beauty Haul @ Poundland

Hi there!

Yesterday I decided to defy wind and snow to go to the grocery store, I swear my intent was to buy only eggs, milk and a little more; surely the decision to go to the shopping centre was hiding a secret desire to buy something else entirely.

I went to Poundland to buy light bulbs and other household items, well aware that you step inside to buy two things and when outside you discover you've spent >£20 (and you do not even know how). I expected to give in to the sweet department, or chips, or buying unnecessary scented candles, but while I was reading quickly the ingredients of the cleansing wipes, this struck my eye:

isn't it lovely?

I usually take a blush with me to use it as a mirror, so I have no proper compact mirrors (well, I had a Nana mirror once ... I wonder were it is now, probably lost), so how could I resist in front of an adorable heart-shaped, vintage style, 50s mirror?

Obviously I could not, and so he went inside my shopping cart together with cleansing wipes, a notebook and various sponges. At that point I had to a look more carefully at the counter (more goodies could be hidden among fake lashes and nails) and the brand Sleek popped out from the others.

quite different from the current paper packaging

I love Sleek make-up  I have two of their famous iDivine palettes (the Oh so Special and the Au Naturel) and I am literally craving for more (i.e. the Ultra Matte V2 and the Lagoon), so I am really interested on trying other products from this brand. At Poundland you can find some of the older shades of their True Colour Lipstick and Sheer Cover Lipstick (which are no more available on their website). 

After rummaging through make-up sponges, Revlon and Maybelline duos and quads, and all kind of beauty stuff all mixed together, I managed to resurface from the chaos with two True Colour lipsticks: Blaze (827) and Fuchsia (833); as it was impossible to open the packaging without damaging the products (and I hate those who do not care about others and open all the products), and there were no testers available (also, it was a very impulsive purchase, so I didn't look for swatches on-line), I could only trust the labels on the bottom... ah ah! How deluded! As if labels have ever been faithful to the real product colour... but for £1 only I was willing to take the chance.

the fuchsia label was truthful

Fuchsia is fuchsia, not a magenta, not a hot pink and I am really happy with this colour; I have never worn this kind of shade as I usually wear blue based red, purplish red and when I was a teen I used to wear a Rimmel lip gloss which came in a small jar and was a nice biscuit colour. I am really looking forward to try it on and experiment with make-up matches (I really don't know how to wear a fuchsia colour on the lips, so it will be fun!).

natural light by the window

Blaze really startled me, while the label suggested an old-rose, purplish shade, the swatch on my hand was a brownish/coppery shade, with a frost finish and a glittery look (don't worry, the glitters don't show up too much when on the lips). I am not sure this kind of colour suits me well, it gives me a sort of "vampy" look, which I really like (I love MAC Dark Side because it's really vampy on me), but I usually wear cool colours and I need to get used to wear brownish/warm colours.

I think that with a well studied make-up, with a good balance of warm tones, this lipstick could be amazing, especially with a little tan that enhances the golden tones on my skin.

I also think that given it frosty and glittery finish it would be perfect for layering with another lipstick and/or lip pencil, lip stain etc.

wearing blaze, no other makup on
taken with mobile, sorry for the crappy quality, better pics coming soon

Last but not least, I bought two products from a brand I was curious about for a long time: Simple, which has great advertising, packaging and all, but when I read the ingredients I always feel somehow disappointed (I guess we have different definitions of "harsh chemicals" and "unnecessary ingredients"), so after a thorough analysis of the INCIs I choose to take home the Kind To Skin Soothing Facial Toner (really lovely ingredients this one) and the Kind To Skin Moisturising Facial Wash (from the INCI it seems delicate and soothing).

So if you want to buy yourself a little beauty on the budget treat, check your nearest Poundland!

Which brands or products would you like to find at Poundland?