MINI SUPERDRUG HAUL

After The Body Shop event the other day I needed to go to Superdrug quickly for a few last minute presents and so obviously I thought I needed treating too...
I needed to restock on a couple of things but really I just can't help myself. I haven't included the presents I bought but here's what new to my collection...

UNSUNG HEROES: SUPERDRUG VITAMIN E HOT CLOTH CLEANSER

Next up in the series is from Superdrug's Hot Cloth Cleanser from their Vitamin E range. The previous posts can be found here.

I BOUGHT TOO MUCH MAKE-UP

This week I received a pretty big ELF order (yes, another one...) and I was just going to do an ELF haul post for you. However, I went to town today (it was payday after all - and my first of being back on a full time wage!) and I may have popped into Superdrug so I decided just to combine all my recent make-up purchases for you. How lucky for you!

I will start with my ELF goodies though. I've done a couple of ELF hauls before and you'll know by now that I really love the brand. So cheap and the products and usually always fab! They had an offer on that if you spent £20 you could get a free goodie bag of products worth £25. That is an offer I was not willing to let slip by. So, when the huge box arrived the other day I was dying to see what was inside it.

When I opened the box to see all of this, I did a little squeal and it was honestly better than Christmas.

First, the products I actually ordered. I restocked on the Maximum Coverage Concealer that I reviewed here. I still have a good amount left but everytime I go on the ELF website, it's usually sold out so whilst it was in stock I thought I may as well stock up. I also got the mini eyelash curlers. I've had my eyelash curlers forever. Literally. I'm pretty sure I got them when I was about 11 in some rubbish gift set. I've been using these since I got them and oh my god! They are amazing! The clamp (is that the right word?!) is tiny so it doesn't cover the whole lash line but it make it so you can get into the corner lashes nicely. The result is amazing; they make my lashes seem even longer and really brightens my eyes.
I was intrigued by the Tone Correcting Powder. I got it in 'Cool' and I wore it today as my powder and my make up has stayed so nice all day. My face didn't go shiny at all and I didn't have any red bits poking through which sometimes happens. I may review this in a few weeks once I've got the hang of it!
I've been getting really in to blush lately and I keep wanting to try cream blushers so I got this one in the shade 'Flirt'. I haven't used it yet but so impressed with the size of it! I thought it would just be a little tub. My MUA eye primer is running out so picked this up and it's £1 cheaper than MUA! I'm not sure why I got he Clarifying Pressed Powder to be honest but I got the shade 'Ivory' and I tried it but it's way to yellow for me and I had to give it to my sister. And I finally got an ELF lipstick! I got the shade 'Fearless' which is a lovely red and it smells INCREDIBLE. It feels really nice to apply and it lasted a good couple of hours.

And this was my free goodie bag! I nearly bought the little eyeshadow duo so I was really pleased with that and the blush, which is in the shade 'Glow' is lovely and really pigmented - I've been wearing it today. It's sort of a blush/highlighter hybrid. I already have a Mineral Lip Tint in 'Cherry' so I was really happy to get this one in the shade 'Blush'. The eyeliner pen is something I can't make my mind up about. I don't usually like felt tip eyeliners but this has a really good, strong nib. It's in the shade 'Coffee' and I never wear brown eyeliners and it's also waterproof which I'm not a fan of but I'm going to give this a try and see how it goes.
The Luscious Liquid Lipstick is a pretty odd device. The colour is lovely but not sure I like the applicator all that much but I do enjoy trying lip products so hopefully I will love this.
The shimmer sheets were the things that scared me the most, particularly as they're in the shade 'Bronze' and the brown on the packaging made the think it was going to be so dark. They're actually just sheets with a bit of shimmer on them and you can just dab them on the top of the cheeks, or wherever you want to shimmery highlight. I tried it out of curiosity and it actually looks very pretty. Probably more at night time, not sure it would suit a day time look!
Not sure I can work with the green eyeliner and dark green eyeshadow and as for the wipes, they seem nice but not a fan of coconut so hopefully the smell isn't too strong.
Very decent goodie bag though! Thanks, ELF!


And then on to today's purchases. I went to Superdrug and then later on I went into Boots and saw they had buy one get one half price or something on all the make up. Gutted.

I needed a restock of the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder and the Collection concealer and there was an offer on that if you bought something from Collection you got a free nail polish too. I chose the shade '63 Shadow' which is a chocolate brown colour. There didn't seem to be much of a selection but free is free!
This year I've been trying different mascaras but it seems the Maybelline Falsies was my holy grail for a reason. I've gone back to it; no other mascara I tried gave as much length and volume as this baby. Maybelline also had an offer that you bought one thing and the second was half price so I decided on a Colour Tattoo in the shade 'On and On Bronze' which I know is a blogger favourite. I have the 'Permanent Taupe' one and I really like that one.
I've been wanting the Sleek Blush by 3 from the new Candy Collection since it was released. There's a cream blush and two powder blush in some lovely pink shade (see, told you I was liking blushers!) and Sleek have amazing blushes. They're so pigmented so very excited to try these out.
And finally I had no intention of ever buying the MUA Undress Me Too palette, which is supposed to be a Naked 2 dupe. I have the Undressed palette by them (a supposed dupe of Naked) but I walked past the stand, it caught my eye and the next thing it was in my hand and then I was at the till. I really like the new white packaging though!



And on that note this is my formal notice of make-up ban. I have completely ran out of room. I have come to realise that I don't actually need anything else so I am going to use up everything I have. I promise to be good and unless something like foundation etc runs out I won't buy anything! So bloggers, please can you not hype anything for a while so I don't get tempted..!

CURRENT SKINCARE ROUTINE

I really like reading skincare posts and watching the YouTube videos but the products used are often so beyond my price range so I thought I'd show you my affordable routine which I'm sure works just as well! At the very least, my skin likes it. I know everyone's skin is different though.

This is everything that I put on my face. Obviously, not all at once. Everything is available in Superdrug and Boots (and LUSH!).

So, here goes..!

Garnier 2 in 1 Make-Up Remover | No7 Cleansing Water | B.Pure Micellar Water

The first thing I do is remove my make up. I have just started using the Garnier remover to take off my eye make up. I was previously using a Nivea one which works in the same way as this but I started to dislike it a bit. It works by having the oil in to remove the make up and a cleansing water so you don't get oily residue and you have to give it a good shake to mix it all together. I've only used this one a couple of times but it feels a lot more soothing on my eyes than the Nivea. It does say make up remover for the whole face too but I've not tried it for that. 

I use the No7 Cleansing Water to remove the rest of my make up. I LOVE this stuff! I only have a tiny bit left but you only need a couple of squirts on to some cotton wool and it takes everything off. I'll definitely be repurchasing it.

The Micellar Water is from the B. range that recently launched in Superdrug. I've heard people banging on about micellar water for a while but to be honest I don't really know how they differ from cleansing water? It was on offer so I thought I'd see how it was different. I have only used it a couple of times because I thought I'd use it after the No7 ran out. It seems to work just as well as that for removing my make up. I don't like the teeny nozzle in this though. The pump on the No7 is much better!

Botanics Gentle Cleansing Cream | Vitamin E Hot Cloth Cleanser

Once I take my make up off I go shower and then do the rest of my skincare. So, cleanser! I am aware I use cleanser to remove my make up and I know that a lot of people use cream cleansers to actually take their make up off but I really hate doing that. I feel like it doesn't take my make up off properly and I'm just dragging it around my face. So I like waters for taking it off and then after I go in with a cream cleanser.
I kind of alternate between using these two. The Botanics one is from Boots own range. It says it brightens to the skin but I can't say I've noticed that however I do really like it. It's light and soothing and it isn't overly scented. The hot cloth cleanser is from Superdrug's range and I absolute adore this. It's a dupe (I presume, I've never tried this one) of the Liz Earle one but much more affordable. It comes with a muslin cloth too. The cleanser itself is lovely and creamy and leaves your skin so soft. I use this one about 2-3 times a week and the Botanics the rest of the time.

Simple Soothing Facial Toner | Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Cleansing & Toning Lotion

Then it's on to toner. I've been using the Simple one for months and it's great for leaving your skin refreshed and it takes up the last traces of make up that the cleanser left or that managed to get into any pores. The Tea Tree one is quite a recent purchase from Boots own range. I bloody love the smell of tea tree and just putting it on my face. I definitely prefer this to the Simple one but I'm trying to hold off using it until the other runs out. I've had some breakouts recently so the tea tree one seems to be calming it a little. I do love toner though. So refreshing on the skin. Please do recommend me others!

Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Exfoliating Face Scrub | Garnier Deep Pore Wash

Ooh, I do love scrubbing these things into my face. I featured the Tea Tree one in my last favourites. Again, tea tree... just love it so much! I can never stop touching my skin after I've used this. So so soft! It really has helped to reduce my pores too, I think anyway.
I've had the Garnier one a while now and I bought it cos I used to have a few blackheads on my nose but I don't seem to have that probably anymore. Guess it worked then..! I really like scrubs and just rubbing the little beads into my skin. (I'm weird, I know.)

I don't exfoliate everyday because that would be over-scrubbing and I'd end up ripping my face off but I do it about 3 times a week. If I'm not being lazy.

Simple Light Moisturiser | Vitamin E Night Cream | Sudocrem

Then it's moisturising time. I do all my skincare at night after I shower. After I've done the previous steps sometimes I put the Simple moisturiser on, depending on how dry my skin feels, and I always put it on after I've exfoliated. It is so light and refreshing. It is my day moisturiser, if I'm not using the Nivea Express Primer, but I just love it. I thought it'd had been discontinued when I wen to repurchase recently but they've changed the packaging and put it in a box, so watch out for that!
Then I'm usually just chilling around my room for a couple of hours before I go to bed and I just whack a load of Sudocrem on all my spots. I get quite a few on my chin and cheeks, unfortunately. I don't rub it in either, I just leave it as blobs all over my skin so it looks like I have some kind of disease. I know it's nappy rash cream but it does say acne on the label, too. It is an absolute miracle and I have a huge tub and it cost like £3 and that'll last years! Before I go to bed, I rub in whatever Sudocrem is left on my face (cos it does start sinking into the skin) and, for me anyway, my spots already seem to have shrunk. Then I put a rather generous amount of the night cream all over my face. I love this stuff! So soothing and my skin feels great in a morning. I really need to try other things from the Vitamin E range because I love the products I have.

The night cream is probably one of my favourite products I use and I have just re-bought that too.

LUSH Bubblegum Lip Scrub | Vaseline

Before I go to bed I also like using these products. I don't use the lip scrub everyday because, just as with the rest of the face, I don't want to rip all the skin off! This smells INCREDIBLE. I use quite a bit when I do use it because it's too hard not too and then I throw on a load of Vaseline and I get the smoothest lips. I use Vaseline every night before I sleep though and it definitely helps. Especially because I wear lipstick everyday and some lipsticks are drying.

And that is everything that gets thrown all over my face!

Hope you like this post and let me know of any other drugstore brands you use for skincare that I should try out.

PAYDAY HAUL #2

Today I had the day off work and had every intention of getting the bulk of my Christmas shopping done. Now obviously, that was never going to happen. Instead I spent money on myself. Lots of money. Oh boy.
I did by ONE present though so it's okay... I'll tell myself that anyway.

I bought the bag a few days ago after I mentioned here I wasn't overly happy with my current bag. I love this one though. So classy and it had 30% off (plus I get a little staff discount on top of that.) and it has a long strap which makes my life so much easier.

I also got the Real Techniques Core Collection the other day because they were reduced to around £15 on Amazon. That works out at under £4 a brush so that is awesome. I've already used a couple of them so sorry they're already a bit grubby on the photo. I can already tell the buffing brush is going to be in the upcoming favourites post!

So on to today and the first stop was Superdrug. Their 3 for 2 across all cosmetics ends tomorrow and I was determined not to miss out. My local Superdrug doesn't have all the brands so I had to go elsewhere to get to one with a Sleek stand. I've been dying to get hold of the Rose Gold blush for so long but it was sold out everytime I went to larger stores. Managed to get the last one in stock today though! I also got the Sleek Dip-It eyeliner, Sleek True Colour Matte lipstick in the shade 'Vamp' and I finally caved and bought a Revlon Lip Butter in 'Candy Apple'.

Also picked up a new Simple toner which I love and my first bottle of it has lasted me nearly 3 months so well worth the money. And finally got the Nivea Express Hydration Primer which I am dying to try out. I had to get it fro dry/sensitive skin as the normal was sold out but my skin has got a little drier this last month or so, so it may be useful.

In Boots I found the Revlon lipstick in Black Cherry after every other Superdrug/Boots I've been in in the past month didn't have it. Such a lovely colour. And I think I should go on a lipstick buying ban now...

And I also got some new foundation but in the Beautifully Matte formula as opposed to the Stay Perfect.

Then the ultimate bargain of the day... got the 3 Models Own nail polishes for £5.99 in TK Maxx! Considering they're £5 on their own that is incredible. They're in the shades 'Peach Puff', 'Gold Digger' and 'Champagne'. I very nearly bought an Essie set which had 4 polishes in for £9.99. Considering they're £7.99 on they're own, I wish I had done now!

Just got two casual tops from Topshop. A beautiful plum coloured scalloped hem one and just a light purple tee which will be great for just throwing on with a black skirt and a cardi. The one on the left was £15 and the right was £16.

Clearly, I am really adventurous when it comes to colour... Got this huge chunky jumper in Primark's men's section. I bought some spike studs off eBay a while back that I haven't used yet so I may get creative with that. The dress cost me £15 which I'm not overly keen at paying in Primark but it looks lovely on and I know I'll have regretted not buying it in the long run.

Also in Primark I got some earrings and a new phone case. Primark's iPhone cases are actually really nice and very cheap too. (Though I only have a month left on my contract and I'm planning on upgrading to the iPhone 5 so this may have been a silly purchase...)

Finally, I decided this past week that I now am a little obsessed with Example despite never liking him all that much before so I bought 2 of his albums as they were on the HMV offer. If anyone has his new one let me know if it's good because his music isn't on Spotify.

Now I'm all spent up and still haven't done Christmas shopping!

SEPTEMBER FAVOURITES

I really love reading monthly favourites posts so here's mine for this month. There's not an awful lot and the majority is beauty related items.

Space tee; Topshop

Disco Pants; Glamorous

ELF Stipple Brush

Argan Oil

FAME by Lady Gaga

No.7 Stay Perfect Foundation

Garnier Anti-Blackhead Deep Pore Wash

ELF Matte Finisher Nail Polish

MUA Lipstick (shade 1)

I don't really own that many casual tops but I saw this and just loved it. It's a good, comfy fit and I wear it all the time when I'm having lazy days. As for the disco pant dupes... I keep seeing people wearing them and I'm not a leggings person at all but I was intrigued. Then a little shop near me starting selling the Glamorous ones (that I've seen loads of bloggers rave) so I had to try them on. IN LOVE. I wear them all the time. Comfy and go with everything! I actually went back and bought the grey ones last week, I like them that much.

I posted recently my first ELF haul. After doing that post I made a second order and in it I got the Stippling Brush. It's fantastic! I use it for foundation and I feel like I don't use as much product when I use this brush and my make up does seem to be staying on a lot longer. Very impressed!

Jumped on the Argan oil bandwagon quite a bit after everyone else but it does serious wonders to my hair, and it smells amazing!

For the last few years my go-to perfume has always been the original Kate Moss fragrance. Then I found out a bit ago it's been discontinued and I only have a tiny bit left. Absolutely gutted. I heard about the Lady Gaga perfume, and I love her anyway, so I had to try it out. I really love it! It takes a minute or so for the smell to really come out and it literally last all day.

I talked about the foundation on this post and I do feel so much happier with my make up since getting this but I will be buying the Matte one next time because my skin does tend to get a bit shiny later into the day.

I've only been using this face wash for just over a week but my skin is SO soft after using it. I will definitely be re-purchasing.

Also, in the previously mentioned ELF haul post, I bought the Matte Finisher polish. I didn't expect to love it as much as I do. I've used it every time I've put a different colour on my nails.

And lastly, the MUA lipstick. I've got quite a few lipsticks but they're all various shades of pink so I decided it was time to branch out. Though a little scary, I just went in at the deep end and bought a bold red. I think I've definitely wore it this month more than any of the pinks. Though, this only means I'm going to get more obsessed with lipstick...

What have you been loving this month?

PAYDAY HAUL

My previous blog post was my payday wishlist and as I got paid yesterday (with a nice little bonus too!!) I went shopping today on my day off.

Skirt; Topshop | Jacket; Miss Selfridge

Sorry the last photo is so blurry!

On the previously mentioned wishlist, I had featured the skirt and the jacket. I was in town the other day and the skirt was sold out in my size so I tried the next size up but it was too big. I went home to order it online but it'd had sold out and I was gutted. Luckily, it was restocked the other day so I ordered it as soon as I realised. It fits perfectly and I'm so happy with it.

As for the jacket, I never want to take it off. It's a lovely fit. I'd definitely recommend going up a size in it though (as I think you should anyway when it comes to jackets and coats.) It's a little pricey (though I do get staff discount) but I know I'll get a lot of wear out of it and it's easily going to be able to be worn all year round. I'm looking at it as an investment, anyway!

Every payday without fail I spend too much money in Superdrug. I'm literally obsessed. Although I did quite well this time (until new Kate Moss for Rimmel lipsticks are released next week, eek!) They had a buy one get one free offer on selected Simple products, which I think is on for all this month but I'm not 100% sure. I picked up some face wipes and a new moisturiser and I also got some eye balm. My eyes look so tired all the time so i was curious. I've used it today and I've noticed the skin around my eye feels a lot smoother but I don't know if I look more awake! Probably not used it enough just yet.

The GOSH primers had £3 off and although I've still got quite a bit left I couldn't pass up that offer because I've never seen them on offer before. I really recommend this primer, though. 

I also popped into Boots and picked up the Soap & Glory Supercat eyeliner pen. I saw it on another blog this week and I was intrigued. I used to use the Rimmel felt pen liner and then I went off it so I'll have to see how this compares to my holy grail liquid liner that is Barry M.

Finally, I keep seeing people go on about the Lush lip scrubs and I never go in Lush but decided to give it a go. I got the bubblegum flavour and it smells AMAZING. I wear lipstick every single day so I probably should look after my lips as much as I try to look after my skin.

I have also just ordered the Hero & Cape Bowie tee that was featured in the wishlist. Very excited for that to arrive.

I'm going to try and post a monthly favourites blog tomorrow. Hope you all have great weekends!

WHAT'S IN MY MAKE-UP BAG

Over the last couple of months I've really started to love make-up and I've been buying a lot of it. Like most people I've had the struggle of finding foundation that actually matches my skin. I don't even want to know how much money I've spent on different ones. I have really pale skin. For the last year or so I've been using Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse in 'Light Ivory' (because Ivory was still too dark...) but I still wasn't very happy with how it looks. I was always really paranoid about how my face looked.

Recently, the No.7 make-up brand from Boots launched their foundation match scheme. I saw the advert and was all "pfft, that won't work!" but my friend had it done and she recommended it so off we went to get matched up. It is amazing and I would definitely recommend getting it done if you're after a foundation that actually matches you and is reasonably priced. I ended up being "Cool Vanilla" and I really do feel so much happier with how my make up looks now.

Make up bag; Primark £2

Face:

GOSH Velvet Touch Foundation Primer

No.7 Stay Perfect foundation in 'Cool Vanilla'

No.7 Blemish Cover concealer in 'Fair'
No.7 Instant Radiance concealer

Rimmel Stay Matte pressed powder in '001 Transparent'

Sleek Contour Kit in 'Light'

Eyes:

Maybelline Falsies mascara in 'Black Drama'

Barry M Liquid Eyeliner

Vivo Eyeshadow Pallete in 'Bronze Me Up'

MUA Eye Primer

MUA Eyeshadows in 'Shade 16 - Matt' and 'Shade 24 - Pearl'

Maybelline EyeStudio Lasting Drama Gel Liner pot

Rimmel Eyebrow Pencil in '004 Black Brown'

Vivo Eyeliner in 'White'

Wow, writing it all down makes it seem like I put so much on but I don't wear it everything there all the time, particularly all the eye stuff. Also as you can see, I do stick to drugstore/high street brands (mainly because I can't afford to buy all of MAC.) The most expensive things there would be the foundation which was £14 and the GOSH primer is around the same but I'm quite willing to spend money on foundation if it's going to look good, be good quality and last. As far as primer goes, I don't even know how I managed without that prior to discovering it! MUA do a primer too for a couple of quid if you're not up for spending that much on it. This is my second bottle and I'll be buying it over and over again.
I probably should have got a new pressed powder before taking these photos, too! Oops!
The Falsies mascara is my all time favourite. I've easily bought it over 15 times now!

Brushes 1-5 all QVS via Superdrug:
(Powder, Foundation, Concealer & Foundation, Powder, Eyeshadow)
Brush 6 comes with Maybelline gel eyeliner pot

Again, I'd love to be able to afford Sigma or Real Techniques brushes but realistically I can't. I really like these QVS ones and I've not paid over £6 for any of those. They wash really well too. I got them from Superdrug but I'm pretty sure they're available in a few other stores too. I would love some higher end brushes though as they must be better at applying make-up for the price they are. I've recently ordered some e.l.f. brushes so I will post about those when I have them.

MUA shade 1

Barry M 'Touch of Magic'

MAC 'Impassioned'

Collection 2000 '5 Pretty Please'

Collection 2000 '6 Sugar Pink'

Rimmel '320 Funtime Fuschia'

Kate Moss for Rimmel shade 20

Kate Moss for Rimmel shade 02

Avon Colour Trend 'Passion'

Avon Colour Trend 'Doll Pink'

Topshop 'All About Me'

Topshop 'Brighton Rock'

Topshop 'Beguilded'

My name is Louise and I am a lipstick junkie. My favourites are the Kate Moss collection ones, probably shade 20 out of those two. It's such a bright pink. I definitely want more MAC ones. I treated myself to Impassioned a month or so back. I know £14 is a lot but they're so lovely. Topshop lipsticks are great too. They're not shiny but creamy and they go on nicely. Pretty much all these are various shades of pink but I'm trying to branch out and be brave and get other colours. The MUA one is a lovely red colour and Beguilded by Topshop is a very deep red/wine colour.

I never realised I owned this much until I did this post.

* I was not asked to write this post by No.7/Boots or any other mentioned brands