NEW YORK MAKE-UP HAUL + US vs. UK PRICE COMPARISONS!

As a self-declared make-up junkie, going to America meant taking advantage of the much cheaper make-up available out there! A girl I got talking to in Sephora even said herself that the UK has to be one of the most expensive countries for beauty related products. This definitely made me cry a little inside! So here's what I picked up in America along with the prices I paid, what price they sell for in the UK and the savings I made!

Top row: 

MAC Sheertone Shimmer blusher in  'PeachyKeen' 

US price - $22 (around £13)

UK price - £18

Saving - £5

Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette

US price - $54 (around £32)

UK price - £37

Saving - £5

Benefit The Porefessional 

US price - $31 (around £18)

UK price - £24.50

Saving - £6.50

Urban Decay Primer Potion

US price - $20 (around £12)

UK price - £16

Saving - £4

Second row:

MAC Retro Matte Lipstick in 'RubyWoo'

US price - $16 (around £9)

UK price - £15.50

Saving - £6.50

Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick in 'Motorhead'

Unfortunately this isn't available in the UK yet but I paid $21 (around £12)

Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips and Cheeks

US price - $27 (around £16)

UK price - £19

Saving - £3

MAC 168 Brush

US price - $35 (around £21)

UK price- £27 

Saving - £6

Sephora Pro Brow Brush

Again, this isn't available in the UK but I paid $15 (around £9)

Sephora Mineral Powder Brush

Not available in the UK but I paid $24 (around £14)

Origins Eye Doctor Eye Cream

US price - $36 (around £21)

UK price - £28.50

Saving - £7.50

Bottom Left: 

Anastasia Eyebrow Gel in Clear

US price - $22 (around £13)

UK price - £16.50

Saving - £3.50

MAC Studio Fix Powder

US price - $27 (around £16)

UK price - £21.50

Saving - £5.50

Bottom Right:

Benefit Boi-ing Concealer 

US price - $20 (around £12)

UK price - £17.50

Saving - £5.50

MAC Studio Fix Fluid

US price - $27 (around £16)

UK price - £21.50

Saving - £5.50

TOTAL SAVING - £63.50

I really hope you enjoyed this blog post! Let me know if you want me to do any reviews on the products mentioned!

Love Leah x

Spring Primark Haul!

Primark and I have a love/hate relationship; either I go in and find a wardrobe full of stuff that I love or find absolutely nothing and leave severely disappointed. When I ventured into the store a few days back, I found myself picking up a few bits that are cute for Spring time and even for the Summer  months which are quickly approaching! 

Apologies for the poor quality! I only have access to my iPhone camera at the mo!!

From left to right:

Hot pink smock top: I picked this up on the reduced section which always makes me feel extremely satisfied in Primark to get a cheap top even cheaper! Maybe I'm a cheap skate. Actually no, I prefer bargain hunter! This top was originally £6 and I got it for £3 so evidently, I couldn't just leave it behind even if it could do with being slightly bigger on me. Not sure if this will still be available so have a rummage through the reduced section girls! 

Tan Sandals: I saw a random pair of these cute sandals chucked on the floor (standard procedure for Primark, right?!) and ended up scouring the entire shoe section to find these as I loved the simple detail with no gaudy jewels that a lot of Primark sandals seem to have this season. Eventually I found them and put them straight into my basket. For £4, who can resist another pair of shoes?

Patterned Collar Blouse: Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE tops/shirts with collars to the extent that I get mocked if I buy something without a collar! But I couldn't leave this, not when the pattern is so gorgeous. It immediately caught my eye especially with the cute tie knot which I thought would look great with shorts for the Summer. This cost £5 which I was surprised by as the material is so soft and feels lovely unlike the cardboard feel Primark's tops often obtain!

Peach Flower Skorts: Skorts are massively on trend at the moment. I've not owned a pair since I was about 15 so when I saw the gorgeous peach colour with the lovely flower pattern, I immediately picked them up. They are high waisted with a delicate zip up the back so would look great with a top tucked in. These cost £7 and I think they are going to be one of my favourite Summer items this year!

Has anyone else found anything they love from Primark recently?

Love Leah x

Treats from Boots

This past week I have been SUPER busy with dissertation work stressing about whether I'm going to get it properly done in time for the deadline (a week on Monday argh!!) so, of course, the only way to bring a spot of brightness back into my life is retail therapy. I realise this is incredibly shallow and materialistic but what can you do? In my defense, I only bought four things which is pretty good considering how damn stressed out I have been. Little treats now and again are a good thing - unless you are like me and buy something every time you go into Boots or Superdrug and end up with no money *sigh* 

Anyway, the first thing I picked up is the Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub - even typing this makes me excited!!! The smell is just the most amazing thing that has been lucky enough to grace my nostrils (not actually inside my nostrils - that would be weird). It contains smashed brown sugar, sweet lime (this is what makes the scent AMAZING), almond oil and Macadamia Grains. I've heard a lot of great reviews about this product and Soap & Glory don't usually let me down so I have high hopes for this! The smell of limes is just such a fresh smell for Summer.

Next, I picked up the new Maybelline Matte Maker Mattifying Powder in Classic Ivory. I'm excited to try this as I prefer a matte finish. I currently use Maybelline's Fit Me Powder every day which is a fabulous product so I also have high hopes for this one AND it was only £3.99! Bargain.

I love to use a facemask when I'm in the bath especially the Montagne Jennesse range. There is nothing more satisfying than peeling off one of their peely masks!!! I always eye up their anti-stress mud pac and have always just by-passed it for some reason but not this time. I rejected my usual peel-off mask for this so again I have high hopes! (How many times have I said high hopes in this post?!)

Last but not least, I picked up the Rimmel Scandal Eyes Waterproof Kohl Eyeliner in 005 Nude. I bought this to wear on my waterline as I'd heard people say it can make your eyes look wider and brighter. I've been wearing it the past few days and already had compliments on it. My friend said it looked 'cool' and stole it off me this morning for her to use so it must have looked alright on me! It takes a bit of getting used to as I usually wear black on my waterline but this is perfect for a lighter look or perhaps if you used black eyeliner under the waterline then it would make your eyes appear much bigger! (Sorry for the shoddy picture, I struggle to take exceptionally clear pictures on my iPhone but I do my best!)

Has anyone else bought anything which has excited them recently?!

Love Leah x

Mini Boots Haul!

Hello! 

So today I was re-united with one of my 'home' best friends who I only get to see when I'm home from uni (or the odd occasion she comes to see me at uni) *sob* As absolute shop-a-holics, we of course decided to spend the afternoon perusing the shops along with taking a compulsory visit to Costa (chocolate creamy coolers are the best!) Anyway, I popped into Boots and bought a few things from Collection 2000 which I've never tried before. I can be a make-up snob sometimes - I fully hold my hands up to this - and often avoid the cheaper brands just because I get nervous of them giving me volcanic spots which I just do not enjoy. But, after seeing many good things being said about Collection 2000 and such brands recently, I decided to have a little nose at what they had to offer. I'm so glad I did *happy dance*

Firstly I picked up a mascara which caught my attention immediately as it is the same shaped bottle as Max Factor's False Lash Mascara (my absolute favourite mascara in the history of mascaras.) Straight away, I'm excited. It is the new Collection 2000 Volumising Mascara which claims to give 10x extra volume. The brush is SO similar to the Falsh Lash brush only it is slightly bigger but I don't see this as a bad thing at all. Very excited to try this out and at £3.99, I will be a very happy girl if it matches the quality of False Lash.

I also picked up one of their blushers in the colour 'bashful' which is priced at £2.99. How amazing is that?! It is a lovely peachy/pink shade with gold undertones.

How adorable is the pattern?! It appears to be really pigmented which surprises me - I expected  to battle with it for a while to get any colour off of it. I'm sorry for doubting you bashful blush *hangs head in shame*

Next, I picked up one of their new deluxe lipsticks in the shade Prohibition (£3.99) - this shade is SO SO pigmented. One slight touch and you're covered in red! Well, sort of. What I'm trying to say is it rubs off very easily.

All I had to do was smell it and it ended up on my nose much to my friends amusement. I swear my nose didn't even touch it. It is a beautiful cherry red shade which I tried out earlier and it feels really creamy on. I didn't leave it on for long though so I'm unsure as to how long it lasts so I will have to report back on that one!

Last but not least I picked up a 'work the colour' eyeshadow pencil in the shade Midnight Glam. This name is so fitting as it is a gorgeous dark navy shade with subtle silver flecks of glitter.

Please excuse the other swatches!

As you can see, it is very pigmented which again surprises me as this was only £3.19 - absolute bargain! I'm so excited to try this out for a night out make-up look.

Just for good measure, I thought I'd also show you the shoes I purchased from the trusty New Look - you can always rely on this place for good shoes for all occasions. At £15.99 I was so happy with my purchase and can't wait to wear these with cute dresses!

Thanks for reading!

Love Leah x

ASOS Tiny Haul

It's always exciting waiting for your online shopping order to arrive. You hope and pray the clothes you witnessed on the site are going to match your expectations and not fill you with disappointment. So this morning, my ASOS order arrived. Hearing the door knock, I was filled with excitement and tried to keep my cool when signing for the package (I realize how lame I sound right now!) Opening the package and the two dresses I ordered are everything I'd hoped they'd be. I ordered a beautiful denim dress with daisy flowers dotted about it with ideas in mind on how I'd wear it - a thin, grey, roll-neck long sleeved top underneath in the cooler months with black brogues and perhaps black tights and in the warmer months I could wear it as it is; sleeveless and above the knee with no tights and white pumps?! I was feeling excited.
The next hurdle, praying it fits! I slowly step into the dress feeling a sense of relief as it appears to fit. I can do the zip up, things are looking good!! HOWEVER, I then realize it sort of bunches up just above my belly button. The next stage is panic; can I get away with this? Is it noticeable? Can I forget about it? I came to the conclusion that it just didn't look quite right and at £15 (down from £30) although a good price I couldn't justify it. The bitter disappointment you feel when a dress you love just doesn't fit as perfectly as you would like is devastating. So back to ASOS you go little denim dress. Here is a picture for those interested:

Secondly, I ordered a T-shirt smock dress with which I in fact LOVE. I saw it on the site and thought it looked great on the model but wasn't sure how it would suit me. At 5 ft 3, I thought it might make me look incredibly short and stumpy and completely drown me. However, I'm happy with how this looks and at £15 (again down from £30) I decided to keep this one! I couldn't send both back; that really would be upsetting!!

Thanks for reading! What are your favourite dresses for the approaching Summer months?
Love Leah x