April Wishlist - Turkey Here I Come!

Me and my boyfriend recently booked a holiday to Turkey so this month's wish list is devoted to holiday clothes. I've also decided to start looking after my skin more - so cleansing and toning every morning and night, and using a mask every couple of weeks. I want to be able to go make-up free in Turkey and if that's going to happen my skin needs to get it's act together! I love the body shop's seaweed range - even though it can be a little pricy, it's the only skincare range that really works on my combination skin.

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8

Hope you guys like my choices and are all having a great Easter weekend :) Let me know what you've got your eyes on for this summer! 

Massive haul and a couple of product reviews coming up for you soon :)

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation - Old vs. New

*Packaging* 

Okay, so i'm not sure how long the Healthy Mix foundation had been in it's current glass packaging but when i popped into superdrug to pick up a new bottle of it the other day it was new to me. 

Old Bottle (Left) vs. New Bottle (Right)

My previous bottle was very boring, ugly plastic - great for traveling but not exactly a looker on my dressing table. The new glass bottle may not be very safe to travel with but it sure does look nice (i'm a right sucker for packaging!). The shiny bottle is much more sleek and sophisticated looking than the old plastic one and that extra weight and little 'clink' noise when you tap it just some how makes it feel so much more high end - is that sad? 

I personally think that the design on the front it better too. It practically says exactly the same just in a different order. It's kept the same claims too - 16hr wear, radiant glow, good for your skin, fruit extracts, etc. - but we'll talk about those in the 'formula' section. I also LOVE the little picture of the fruit on the new bottle too - so cute!

I find the pump on the new one is better than before. I constantly struggled with the previous pump - is was hard to control making any hope of just getting half a pump impossible, that's if it decided to work at all. Sometimes I used to press it over and over and nothing would come out, even when full it would act like it was empty then suddenly, during my manic, constant pumping and giant blob would spurt out and go everywhere. Such a pain! The new pump however is performing pretty flawlessly so far - no acting empty or spurting and it's much easier to control meaning i can quite easily have a full pump or just a quarter one of i want it.

Overall i'd definitely say 'New' is the winner in terms of packaging! 

*Formula*

Although i love with the new packaging, i was worried that new packaging could mean a new formula, something i really didn't want since i was really truly madly deeply with the old one! The colours are still numbered the same so i picked up the same as before - 52.

Old Foundation(Left Blob) vs. New (Right Blob) - Colour in Electric Light, Natural Light, & Thickness Test

 At first in the bottle they looked the same, and even in the photos, although looking at them now I can see that the new one is ever so slightly darker. It's when applied to the face though, that this colour difference becomes really prominent. Heartbreakingly, the new one is noticeably darker and more orange toned than my beloved old one. This might be alright come the end of June when i've got a tan, but at the moment, although a could probably just about get away with it, i really don't like it. The finish is disappointing too. The finish of the old one was really pretty - although fairly sheer it really did make my skin look healthy and dewy. In contrast the only 'glow' i get with this one is its buttery shine - it doesn't glide on half as smoothly and although thicker, the coverage isn't actually any better, instead it just seems to go blotchy and sit in my pores. This, combined with its slightly 'oompa-loompa' effect is very ugly and makes my skin look far from healthy. It's only plus point is that it is longer lasting (still not 16 hrs though, more like 8-10) than the old formula, so at least i can be a consistent oompa loompa.

My only thought about the formula issue is that perhaps they purposely made it thicker when they brought out the Healthy Mix Serum in order to marker two very different foundations - if anyone has used the serum version i'd really appreciate hearing your thoughts on it. 

Overall, old one is my champion in terms of formula, so much so that i would give up the swanky new glass packaging to have it back!

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Celia Birtwell for Uniqlo Wishlist

Sorry I've been AWOL for a while - been super busy at uni! It is the start of my Easter holidays next week though so hopefully that'll mean more time for blogging :) 

Although i haven't been posting, I have still been reading other peoples blogs. On Daisy's blog I read about a new collaboration between 60s designer Celia Birtwell and stylish high-street store Uniqlo - read Daisy's post here. Once I saw the Vogue preview page, i had to do a wishlist - the collection is gorgeous, and i love how reasonable the prices are.

I'm a bit obsessed with the leggings, I kind of want them all but i've just to included my 3 favourites. 

Leggings - £12.90 // Shirt - £19.90 // Tote Bag - £9.90

The collection goes on sale in-store and online today so get buying as I'm sure this is gonna sell out fast! 

My Everyday Make-Up Routine

*Mac Pro Longwear in NC20 & Bourjois Healthy Mix in No.52, Vanilla*

I like the Mac Longwear Foundation because of it's long lasting finish, and it's good coverage, although i do find it too heavy when worn alone. I also like that it has an SPF of 10. NC20 is perfect for me when I have a tan, but it is too dark for me at the moment, so mixing it with an equal amount of Healthy Mix not only lightens the colour, but also sheers out the coverage. I apply this in circular, buffing motions using my Real Techniques Buffing Brush.

*Sheer Cover Concealer*

I used to use Erase Paste by Benefit but wanted to try something new, and had heard good things about this one so decided to try it out. Although i do love how creamy and soft it is, and it does give good coverage, the Erase Paste was much better at covering my under eye circles, so i shall be switching back to that after I finish this one. I dab this on under my eyes, around my nose, mouth and where i suffer from redness, and on any blemishes.

*Mac Cremeblend Blush in Posey*

I love this blusher, it's such a pretty warm pinky peach colour, easy to wear all year round, and the cream formula really sinks into the skin making it look like a natural flush. I dab this onto my cheeks using my fingers, starting on the apples and blending outwards and up my cheekbones.

*Urban Decay Primer Potion followed by Powder*

After applying primer potion all over my eyelids, I powder over and under my eyes, and down my T-Zone using the Real Techniques Contour Brush from the Core Collection - it's so soft and i find it the perfect size for powdering my face. The powder I use is Rimmel's Clear Complexion Powder - it smashed so I ground it down and put in an an old Sheer Cover powder jar, so i now use it like a loose powder with I actually prefer.

*Dandelion Blush by Benefit*

Sometimes, if i feel like I need some extra colour on my cheeks I'll use this over the top of Posey. I also think it sets the cream, making the overall colour last longer. Same story here as with the Rimmel Powder - it got smashed so I put it in another old powder jar that I found. I use my beloved Elf Blush Brush to apply this.

*Sleek iDivine Palette in Au Natural*

For my eyes I use a large flat (unbranded) brush to apply Nougat (a matte ivory) into my inner coner and across my eye lid. I then use a smaller (again, unbranded) brush to apply Bark (a cool toned matte brown) to my outer corner and along my crease. I also use Bark on a 266 brush from Mac, to fill in and define my eyebrows. Read my review on this palette here.

*Collection (2000) Extreme Felt Tip Eyeliner in Black*

I love felt tip liners - i find them so much easier to use than anything else! And for the price, this one is brilliant and gives amazing colour payoff and pretty good staying power when used with a primer. I like to apply it in a classic 'winged' shape. 

*Rimmel Volume Flash ScandalEyes Waterproof Mascara*

Lastly I curl my lashes and apply a couple of coats of this mascara to the top and bottom lashes. I do really like this mascara, but it's not the one - i'm still yet to find Mr. Right on my seemingly never-ending search. I buy a different mascara every time, but don't yet have my sights set on anything in particular for when this one dries up, so recommendations would be much appreciated!

Hope you enjoyed this post, what are your everyday treasures? Let me know if you would like to see a full review of any of the products I've mentioned :) 

1916 - In Defense of Make-up

I found this brilliant quote yesterday while researching the history of make-up for one of my Uni modules. From a 1916 edition of McClure's Magazine:

"Natural beauty, indeed may be regarded as so much raw material which the artist has the right to adapt and enhance. Of course, there will always be silly women who think of nothing else but their looks, and there will always be bad artists who over-do the thing. Perhaps if they were to sign their complexions - as other artists sign their pictures - they would take more care of and pride in them. Certainly some complexions are such masterpieces that one often longs to know the name of the artist." 

Richard Le Gallienne             

Collective Haul - Primark, H&M, Superdrug & more

So, i've done it again. I don't mean to, it somehow just seems to happen! Anyway, i'm pretty pleased with my purchases so i can't complain too much :)

First of all, i made another trip to Primark, i really need to stop going in there because i always find so much that i want. I went back in for a basic khaki tee from the men's section. My boyfriend had bought it a couple of weeks ago, and i wanted one too, as i love the colour and it's one of those t shirts i'll be able to get a lot of wear out of. I'm also a sucker for roll sleeves. While there i spotted a rather bright, slightly sheer, crop top which i completely fell in love with! Not everyone's cup of tea i know, but i can't wait to wear it in summer. Lastly, i found some lovely statement collar tips.

Crop Top - £6 // Khaki Tee - £4 // Collar Tips - £1.50

I visited Nottingham last weekend to see my boyfriend, and I always love doing a bit of shopping while i'm up there as they have some really nice vintage shops. I found a new one this time called Backlash on Market Street, where i picked up a gorgeous cream cable knit jumper for just £12.99! I've wanted a jumper like this for years, but have never bought one because they're always normally over £20. I was contemplating getting the one with elbow patches from Primark but that was £14, and this is much nicer, so i'm feeling rather smug. For anyone in the Nottingham area, Backlash had a whole huge rack full of jumpers like this, all for £12.99 so definitely go check them out! It's really long but i prefer wearing it tucked under, like in the photo below.

Vintage Cable Knit Jumper - £12.99

Finally, i visited H&M because i wanted one of their basic black bodycon skirts. I also had a look at the jewllwery while in there and - hallelujah - i finally found a gorgeous spiky necklace! 2 of them in this case! I've been after a statement/collar/triangle/spiky necklace for literally a year and i was so happy when i spotted these. They are two separate necklaces sold together. The first is shorter with a thick chain and with 7 small triangles equally spaced across the front. The second one is longer with a much thinner double chain. On the slightly longer of the two chains there are 11 inch long spikes.

Two Gold Statement Necklaces - £6.99 // Basic Skirt - £3.99

The other day, i was in poundland, on the hunt for cheap paint brushes, and i made an amazing discovery - they sell dove shampoos! I love the dove shampoos and conditioners, i think they're such good quality and my hair seems to love them too. I couldn't believe i could get them for a pound each! So i picked up a couple I haven't tried before - the volume boost shampoo, and the nourishing oil care conditioner. I always tend to by mismatching shampoo and conditioner since my roots and ends have totally different needs. Full review on those coming soon!

I also popped into Superdrug while in Nottingham as i was on the hunt for a liquid cleanser. After much deliberation (and a large amount of very bored and annoyed sighing from my boyfriend) i settled on the Garnier Fresh Essentials cleanser with Grape extract. I liked what it promised on the back, and i tired it on the back of my hand and it smelt amazing and left my skin feeling so soft. I really like it so far - full review on that coming up too :) 

Dove Shampoo & Conditioner - £1 each // Garnier Cleanser - £1.50

March Wishlist

It's quite a small wish list this month. To be honest, i have my eye on a rather large selection of underwear, but i don't feel like we're quite close enough just yet for me to share my bra and knicker choices with you, so for now i've decided to keep it to the more 'family friendly' options.

Topshop Tank, Dungarees, Foundation, White Converse, Topshop Corset

First up is the Topshop cut away tank top (£10). I saw this in fashionsrocksmysocks's topshop haul video and just think it would be a great basic that i'd get a lot of wear out of.

Dunagrees are still very firmly on my wishlist. The ones in the picture above are actually from Topshop, but £36 is just too much for me so i've been scouting ebay for a cheaper version.

I'm coming to the end of my Boujois Healthy Mix foundation at the moment so know i'll be needing a replacement within the next couple of weeks. Although i do love the healthy mix, i feel like a change. So, if anyone can recommend me an affordable, medium coverage foundation that's good for combination skin i'd much appreciate it!

The aztec corset also caught my eye but, at £25 i need to find a cheaper version of that too!

Lastly, i've changed my want for new black boots to a want for some white hi tops. I had my eye one some gorgeous vintage pumas on ebay but was tragically outbid in the last second :( so vintage trainers or converse are the newest addition to my wishlist. 

Hope you like it :) let me know what you have your eyes on!
And *spoiler alert* I have a little haul coming up this week, with some H&M, Boots and of course Primark, so keep your eyes peeled for that too! :)