NOTD #3: Barry M Matte Nail Paint in Crush

Oh I have a love affair for matte nail varnishes, and until very recently, did not own a single one. And then Barry M released a small line of matte shades, and I snapped up two. I think there are four in total but I chose the best two. I chose a matte grey/neutral shade, and this baby - a deep vampy red that I am super excited about. It's such a gorgeous red, in some lights it can look almost black, and its the perfect colour for autumn/winter/Halloween/Christmas/whenever you are feeling it. I would love to say it is the easiest to apply - but it isn't. Matte shades are not forgiving when you have a wobbly hand and the lines will show up as you can see on my imperfect set. This in daylight won't look too bad, but on camera it shows up a hell of a lot! It definitely needs two coats as well to perfect the gorgeous shade. When I first applied it, it came out a really shiny colour and I was convinced it wasn't going to go matte. Shame on my impatience, a couple of minutes in and it goes a lovely texture which I have been loving. I definitely recommend this varnish for those who love a good red, and have a steady hand.

COMING UP SOON: Budget Halloween Makeup!

Empties #4

Woooo I have lots of empties again. I have been trying to narrow down my collection of half used beauty items by attempting to use up everything that I've got, but as you can probably tell from my most recent hauls I'm not really doing very well with narrowing down my collection! I've managed to use up a mini Aussie conditioner, although this used to work for my hair, it doesn't so much now as now my hair is much longer it has the tendency to tangle, and this doesn't cut it anymore, I used it anyway! Make up wise, I've gotten through an entire Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation, and I've already bought another one because as you are all well aware, its such a fantastic foundation and I use it every day to spare my eye wateringly pricey ones. I also used up a Benefit They're Real! mascara, although I can't tell if I used it all or if it dried up really quickly. I did quite like it although the brush was a little spiky for my liking and I always ended up poking myself in the eye with it. I didn't review it as there was so much hype surrounding it already, I thought you guys would of heard enough about it without me putting my two cents in. I also got through yet another Collection Lasting Perfection concealer, and yes of course I bought another one! I love love love this concealer as it covers my super dark circles that nothing else seems to touch. I got through a mini Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference serum for combination skin, although this didn't take long as it was such a tiny little tube. I did like it but I don't think I liked it enough to buy a full size, for now anyway..

I absolutely loved this Avon Anew Line Corrector, I don't think I'm really at that stage where I have enough lines to correct, but it did make my skin feel super soft, but for the price of it, it wasn't mind-blowing enough for me to grab another one. However, I won't forget about you Avon! The Body Shop Dry Oil in Shea is a multi-use tool and can be used for pretty much everything, however I solely use it for shaving my legs. It gets amazing close shave, leaves my legs feeling super soft and the razors last longer because of the oil. I will be grabbing another one of these when I remember to!

I've been trying to get through all my half used shampoos and shower gels. Bed Head's superstar shampoo gives such good volume and it smells like strawberry sweets, and I'm a little bit sad to see it empty. You get a huge amount for the money though and a little definitely goes a long way, so I may have a little splurge once I've gotten through my others. I also used up a mini Rehab shampoo by Lush. I didn't really feel like this did anything for my hair, but I did love the smell of it, but I don't think that's enough for me to part with my pennies. Sorry Lush! Of course I've gotten through another Batiste cherry dry shampoo - the cherry is my favourite scent at the moment and I'm dying to try the new oriental one. I've also finished my Bed Head Health Goddess detangling spray, which I did absolutely adore but its discontinued now, waaa. Lastly, I finished up my Original Source Lime shower gel, which smelt like sweet limes and I think its a definite dupe for everyone's favourite Soap and Glory Product! If I could recommend one product out of these for you to try, it would definitely be the shower gel, who doesn't want to smell like a zingy lime?

Lips of the Day #7: Rimmel Kate Moss in 107

So in my most recent haul, I finally picked up a Kate Moss for Rimmel lipstick. I've heard amazing things about the Lasting Finish Matte range, so naturally I went for the most beautiful red. I can't figure out if I love this lipstick. I LOVE the finish, the colour isn't as deep as I would of liked, but it has wonderful blue tones that make your teeth sparkly white, and I can definitely get along with that. The lipstick has amazing staying power and glides on the lips so easily that application takes seconds. I enjoy the packaging too, it feels nice in your hand (is that a weird thing to say?!) and is sturdy enough to not open itself in your handbag. The lipstick has a smell to it, its kind of sweet, and I do like the smell, but I don't like it in a lipstick, and I notice it for ages after application. This is an easy red that anyone can get along with though, and I think that explains it's popularity, and I'm happy to have it in my collection.

A Boots and Superdrug Haul

What's wrong with me? Why do I keep buying things? I popped into town today just to get my eyebrows threaded, and I wanted to nip into Boots just to buy a couple of things. As we all know, one can never just nip into boots and buy a couple of things. Boots had an offer on Rimmel products where if  you spent £10, you got a free mascara. I've been eyeing up the Kate Moss lipsticks for so long now, I felt like it was about time I chose one, and of course, I chose a red, because it's pretty much all I wear in the winter. And then I saw the new Stay Matte foundation, and the rest is history. I haven't used  the Natural Collection Peach Melba blusher since I was 16, so I bought it again to relive my youth in a very rock and roll style. I've seen some fantastic reviews on the Seventeen Phwoarr Paint and I'm rather hoping it is a good high street dupe of Benefit's Boi-ing concealer, so we shall see!

I bought my usual eyelashes, because they were on my list, and I bought a couple of Toni and Guy mini's because I'm away from home at the end of October and I didn't fancy taking a separate bag for all my full size products. And then everything got a bit crazy, and I bought the new MUA ever after palette, because the it occurred to me that I don't have an eyeshadow palette, and that it must be corrected immediately. I also saw the new Barry M matte nail paints and I think I chose the best two colours. I also ended up with another Real Techniques brush, they just seem to jump in my basket. I'm really sorry bank balance, I hope we can still be friends.

OOTD: Godinton House & Gardens

Purl-knit Jumper - H&M / Leggings - Topshop / Bag - H&M / Necklace - Vintage / Ring - H&M

Boots - New Look / Lipstick - Smooch in Deadly Nightshade

So I went to Godinton House & Gardens today with my mother and some friends, and it was lovely and interesting, even if my miserable face doesn't say so haha. I've never done an outfit of the day before but I thought I would give it a go. This is my super high street outfit, with a super baggy slouchy jumper that is a mix of green, gold and black and grey. I really love it! Teamed with some comfy leggings and ankle boots and chunky gold jewellery. I'm sure with time I'll get better at these outfit posts, and not look so unhappy in them...

Godinton House is a beautiful manor hidden away in Kent, with some seriously amazing interior design that dates back to the 1600's, and visits from famous figures such as Jane Austen and Baroness Thatcher. Due to the delicate nature of most of the paintings, oak carvings and furniture, photography inside is strictly forbidden which is a terrible shame. If you are from Kent or visiting the area, I would highly recommend a visit, as a guided tour around the house is a mere £8. Today was the last day for visiting this year, so if you are keen, you will have to wait a few months until they re-open! My favourite room was the oriental room, which I will leave to your imagination...

Food Shopping Gone Wrong

So I went food shopping today, and apparently I can't even buy food without ending up spending lots of time along the beauty isles. It turns out that Tesco have some really great offers, and I'm a sucker..

I've been needing some new moisturiser as my skin is slowly turning into 'mid twenties skin' and I'm getting those dreaded fine lines around the eyes that we all have but are ignoring the existence of. I saw this Q10 anti-ageing day cream on a half price offer for £4.99, so I couldn't help myself, I bought it. Nivea just does things to my skin that no other brand has really been able to live up to. I think we're soul mates. I got so excited by the half price offer that I bought a regenerating night cream too because it was only £1.99 and quite frankly, it would of been rude not to. I absolutely adore the St Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub and I realised I didn't have one in my travel bag, so I just had to buy one, because apparently I can't control myself when shopping..

And then we come to my greatest purchase of the month. At the beginning of October I realise this isn't the greatest deal, but I was browsing the magazines and Cosmo had the St Tropez wash off tan lotion mini as their freebie this month, so I put it in my basket. And then I wheeled my trolley around to the beauty clearance section, and came across the FULL SIZE St Tropez Instant Wash off Glow lotion for a mere £3. Yes, THREE POUNDS. I wish I'd bought two now, I'm just as pleased as punch to have found the bargain of the century. I didn't really buy any food apart from some Jelly tots and popcorn. I'm a great adult.

Favourite Things

Every now and again I use things that I get quite attached to, and I call these beauties my favourites. Lush's space girl is one of my favourite bath bombs, and they've recently changed the glitter on top to a biodegradable glitter, so they've covered it in the stuff. It still has the most amazing smell and makes the water a gorgeous purple colour, and so when I went to Lush last, I ended up buying four of these. Oops! Whilst I was there, I picked up Whoosh Shower Jelly, because it smells like grapefruit and its really fun to play with. Maybe in love with it a little bit?

I had a bit of a high end shop and grabbed myself the Le Volume De Chanel mascara because it does give the most incredible volume to the lashes. I went to the hairdressers and wore it, and had three separate women there compliment me on my lashes, so I think I'll be sticking with this one for a while. On the same shopping trip, I bought this matte Mac lipstick in honey love as I've got a massive girl crush on Lana Del Rey and I wanted a neutral lipstick so I could look as perfect as her. The lipstick is perfect but the rest hasn't quite caught up yet...

It might be a bit odd to put a toothpaste in a favourites, but I bloody love this one if I may say so. I really hate strong toothpastes that burn your mouth, but the Oral B 3D White has the perfect amount of mint, and it has lifted quite a few stains from my teeth. Good job Oral-B! Whilst upon my high end haul I picked up the Aveda Damage Remedy conditioner, which I have had before and it rescued me from two years of hardcore hair bleaching, and my hair is feeling a little worse for wear lately, so I have high hopes of this giving me Rapunzel hair. My skin hasn't been so great either, I go through oily phases, so this little sample size of Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference Skin Balancing Lotion (what a mouthful) is light enough to hydrate but not break me out. I have a feeling that a few of these products will be my friends for life...

Along Came Betty Pure Pores Detox Mask

I'm a bit of a sucker for this brand, the girly packaging and fun names really draw me in, not to mention the super budget price. Along Came Betty, a Tesco exclusive brand, have an impressive range of body and skincare products that are inspired by 1950's movie stars which is definitely reflected in the kitsch names and packaging. I picked this up on a special offer for about £3.50, otherwise full price it is a bargainous £5.50. It promises to target 'greasy, spot prone areas and purify the t-zone' for the ultimate deep cleanse. I really like this product, for its simplicity, it promises just to give your face a good old-fashioned clean and help those with oilier skin types. I have a bit more of a combination skin and I find this doesn't dry me out in the slightest, and just makes my face feel so smooth and clean after using. You can leave this on for five minutes for a quickie, or for 15 for a pamper. Its not going to shrink your pores, but then it doesn't promise to, but it does promise to give a deep cleanse, and that's exactly what it does. I love the fact it comes in a pot too, its so easy to use, and it smells fantastic. If you are on a bit of a budget and want something to spoil yourself with, this is definitely it, I've had better results with this than some masks that are twice the price. This one's a keeper!