Primark Haul

         

Spring/Summer clothing is all over the high street right now and Primark has some good pieces at an affordable price. So today I thought I'd share with you a few things that I've picked up after the last few weeks. Now I've mostly picked up a few basics but they've been bits I feel are missing from my wardrobe and that'll not only take me through Spring/Summer but also through the whole year. 

                       

Dark Grey Basic Tee £3

Now I know this very basic but I was missing a grey t-shirt that wasn't too light or that had a v-neck. And this is perfect. It's a very lightweight material that doesn't cling anywhere that I don't want it to. The round neck isn't too low cut but is enough to just give the shirt some more shape. And the colour is flattering both on my figure and with my skin tone. And the best bit, it only cost £3. 

                              

Basic Striped Tee £3 

So I loved the dark grey t-shirt that much I went and brought the striped version as well. It's made of the same material, it fits the same way and is exactly what I've been looking for for ages. I love how this looks paired with black jeans, a simple hoodie and some slip ons. And again it was only £3. 

                        

Striped Canvas Slip Ons £8 

Let's move onto shoes and I have more shoes than clothes in is haul which is something I didn't think I'd ever have as I'm not a big shoes girl but am clearly having a moment right now. And these slip on shoes just screamed out to me when I saw them. Now I know these won't be to everyone's taste but I really like them. Now I'm not sure if they're a white material with blue stripes or blue material with white stripes. And that's just what they are material, inside and out. Not perfect for rainy days but when that warmer weather finally breaks through these are going to be perfect. I can see them paired with any wash of jeans and a white t-shirt with massive sunglasses and minimal make up. 

                         

Ankle Strap Low Block Sandal in Lemon £10 

Now if you know me personally then you'll know that I'm not the biggest fan of colour in my wardrobe. I tend to rotate grey, white and black with a hint of khaki thrown in but when I saw this next pair of shoes on their website, I just had to have them. And us they are a bright colour but it's why I loved them as soon as I saw them. Me and my mum have a couple of nights out coming up and I thought these would be perfect. They are perfect for dressing up an outfit without being too much and the low block heel means that they'll hopefully be more comfortable than other heels I've worn. 

                           

Ankle Strap Low Block Heel in Black £10 

And I liked them that much I brought them in a very practical black as well. I can see these working well with black jeans or even a pair of black culottes for dinner out with Jasmin or Lauren. And at £10 a pop I couldn't resist them in my basket. They also have them in blush pink which I'm so tempted to buy but I know I won't get as much wear out of them as the other two colours. 

                          

Wire Framed Dark Tint Sunglasses £3 

I'm a sunglasses hoarder, it's that bad that Jasmin has to keep a watchful eye on me because I could easily buy four or five pairs in on trip. And I like Primark's as they inexpensive and perfect for those fashion pieces that are more than likely only going to be on trend this year. Now these aren't the usual style I'd go for but I really like how they sit on my face without being too bug like or overpowering. And at £3 I don't mind if they only last me this year or are replaced by a new style next year. 

                           

Hydro Gel Sheet Mask £2/ Sunflower Under Eye Patches £1 

Last week I showed you some sheet masks I picked up from Primark and when I popped in again this weekend I brought another sheet mask and another pack of the Sunflower Under Eye Patches. I didn't intend to buy the sheet mask but when I saw that it contained mint I was intrigued and figured I'd give it a go. And the under eye patches are a statement part of my skincare collection and I always like to have a pack or two for those morning after a late night TV binge. 

                           

Genie Cushion £6 

Primark have recently released a Aladdin homeware range and I need as much of it as I can physically get my hands on.  I've been a huge fan of Aladdin for pretty much my entire life and struggle to find any decent merchandise in my town so getting this cushion and anything else Primark have to offer is a win in my book. Starting with this cushion. Shaped like the Genie's face, this super soft cushion is the perfect addition my ever growing cushion collection. I won't be using him to rest my head, he'll be purely for decoration. But make sure you get to Primark quick if you want one, their like gold dust at the moment.

                           

Aladdin Magic Lamp Money Box £8 

And the other bit I've managed to get my hands on is the money box. I have the Mrs Potts money box but she doesn't hold a lot so this was released just in time. He sits with pride of place next to my picture of Percy on my Disney shelf. They also had a tea pot but I have no where to put him, having already had trouble finding a home for the Mrs Potts teapot that Primark released around Christmas. 

Spring GRWM

                       

I'd love to say that this look comes from being inundated by Spring and a slightly warmer turn in weather but in reality I've just been recreating this look in an attempt to brighten up the horrendously grey and rainy days that seem to be never ending. 

Over the last few weeks I've had some trouble with my skin. My redness has been more pronounced than normal, I've had breakout after breakout and nothing I do makes my dark circles look any less horrific than they are. However as I write this my skin has cleared up considerably and I put it down to being extremely on it with my skincare, which is where we're starting today. 

                        

There are three product I believe have helped and as I want my skin to look as good as possible today I'm starting with those. When I've cleansed my face I go in with a cotton pad soaked in Pixi's Glow Tonic to tone, brighten and boost skins radiance. And it's 5% Glycolic Acid formula means it also improves my skin texture, allowing foundation to sit better on the skin. Then after a spritz of facial spray I go in with the Loral Hydra Genius, it's a nothing more than Hyaluronic Acid and Aloe Wafer but it hydrates skin all day long without being too heavy or greasy feeling. And then it's time to try and do something with my dark circles. And that's where the Optimum Ice Wine Eye Cream comes in. It's metal applicator not only distributes product nicely but helps calm, cool and reduce any signs of puffiness, making me look more awake than I feel. 

                        

Prime

If you've been around a while you won't be surprised by my primer duo of choice. I first go in with the Barry M Hydro Fix Primer Water. It's lightweight and Hydrating, which not only helps prolong the wear of your make up but also hydrates skin and keeps skin looking radiant for longer. Then over the top of this I apply the Maybelline SuperStay Primer. This flesh coloured primer evens skin out and gives it a smoothed finish but also has a nice tackiness to it that adheres nicely to anything you apply over top. 

                       

Colour Correct 

Even though I've been loving the Optimum eye cream for under the eye, I still like to go in with a colour corrector to cancel out the really dark parts of my eye bags. For this I'm going in with the Collection Lasting Perfection Colour Corrector in Lemon. It really helps disguise any blue/purple tones under my eyes and makes them look brighter, even without concealer over top. I usually apply this straight from the doe foot applicator and blend it in with my finger as it seems to blend out better than with a sponge. I think it's because it's a thicker formula and the warmth from my finger really helps blend it out without removing too much product. 

                                

Foundation 

I'm using a new foundation today and I'm totally blown away by it. That's all I'm going to say about it because I've got a review coming very soon and don't want to spoil it. But today I'm using the Make Up Revolution Foundation Stick. I have it in the shade F1 and it matches my skin tone perfectly. I've never used a stick foundation before so I'm still getting to grips with it but I just draw stripes along my face and blend it in with a damp beauty blender, making sure it's evenly blended together and that the original lines of product can't be seen. This gives a medium to buildable full coverage and I can't get over how good my skin looks with this foundation. 

                         

Concealer 

Then I'm going in with a new concealer that has just blown me away. It's again coming up in a review very shortly so I'm not going to say too much. It's the Make Up Revolution Conceal and Define Concealer. I have it in C1 and again it matches my complexion perfectly. I use this mainly under the eyes as the foundation does such a good job of covering things such as redness and dark marks left from blemishes. The coverage on this concealer is insane and makes me look so much more human than my usual death warmed up look. A little goes a long way and blends out beautifully with a damp beauty blender. 

                           

Powder

I usually go ham with powder but since I've been using the Make Up Revolution duo I find I don't need as much powder as with other foundations. However for the places I do need powder I go in with my Barry M Ready Set Smooth Loose Setting Powder. With my Real Techniques Setting Brush, I dust a little of this powder under my eyes, it's enough to set everything in place but doesn't leave it looking caked on. Then for the centre and edges of my face I just dip my B Powder Brush into it and lightly dust it over my face. 

                          

Brows 

Normally I don't bother filling in my brows but recently I've not been able to get enough of filling them in. And for that I've been using my Rosie For Autograph Brow Pencil. It's soft enough to give brows a natural yet defined look but is still highly pigmented. With a light hand, I just fill in the sparse areas and give them a bit more shape, making sure to use the spoolie to brush through them to get rid of any excess foundation or product. 

                               

Lashes

Then it's onto my lashes and for that I reach for another duo that doesn't let me down. After I've curled my lashes, I go in with a coat of the Benefit They're Real Tinted Lash Primer. It's natural looking tint makes lashes look fuller whilst giving them a volume boost which is only amplified when you add mascara. Then over top of that I apply a generous coat of the Maybelline Total Temptation Mascara. This gives my lashes the most length, volume and definition with little work. Plus it keeps the curl in place all day and doesn't droop or flake throughout the day. 

                         

Lips 

Then all that's left is lips and for that I'm going for a shade that I love for Spring/Summer. To start with I lined my lips with the Loreal Color Riche Lip Liner in 302. It's a little lighter than the lipstick but it makes it less obvious when I slightly overdraw my top lip and gives it less of a sharp edge which makes it look more natural and effortless. Once I'm happy with the shape, I then go in with my colour of choice. And today that's the Rosie For Autograph Lipstick in Rosie Lips. It's a vibrant pink shade but isn't too bubblegum pink are too blue toned. It's got a gorgeous raspberry undertone that makes it suitable for us with fairer complexions. This just glides onto the lips, is highly pigmented and doesn't budge all day; even though it's a sheen finish, making it perfect for busy days where you don't want to have yo keep obsessively reapplying your lipstick. 

                         

Setting Spray 

Now my make up is in place all that's left to do is lock it in place with a spritz of setting spray. And my setting spray of choice comes from Collection. Their Primed and Ready Make Up Fixing Spray is lightweight, non drying and actually prolongs the wear of your make up. Plus it leaves skin with a soft matte finish that helps reduce any excess dewy-ness that your foundation may have. And that's my face for the day. 

Now I'd show you an outfit but it's extremely boring as it comes in the form of my work uniform and nobody wants to be bored by that. So once I'm dressed and my hair is tamed, I move onto perfume. 

                        

Perfume 

For work usually I don't wear anything fancy perfume wise but ever since I got my Elizabeth and James Rollerballs, I haven't been able to stop wearing them. And to today I'm mixing two, chosen for their more floral scents which makes me think of Spring and to match the rosy hue of my lipstick. The first is the Nirvana French Grey and the second is Nirvana Rose. Both are feminine, classy and classic but aren't too overpowering. Plus they last all day long and are always guaranteed to gain you a compliment or two.

Haul: Repurchases and New Releases

                            

Over the last couple of weeks I've been slowly gathering beauty products that have either been recently released or were in need of replacing. This weekend just gone I finished my shopping and thought I'd share it with you, including my first impressions on a base duo and a couple of new skincare items. 

                          

There was only one hair product of interest that I've picked up recently so I thought I'd get it out of the way first then move onto the make up and skincare. This is the newly released Loreal Elvive Dream Lengths No Haircut Cream. It's designed for those with long hair that's prone to breakage and split ends. Now I have extremely long hair that can break and become flyaway by just looking at it so I thought I'd give it a go to see if it could tame my wild mane. It can be used on either Wet or dry hair but doesn't contain a heat protectant so you'd still need a separate product if you were going to heat style your hair. I'm going to go and pick up the shampoo and conditioner in this range and come back to you in a month or two and let you know how it's worked for my hair. 

                          

Now onto the skincare. I'm a huge fan of sheet masks and like to make sure I have plenty in my collection. These three are repurchases and must haves in my collection. The Garnier Moisture Bomb De-Tiring Tissue Mask is perfect if you've had one too many late nights and you're skin is suffering. The Soap and Glory Pore Refining Mask is one I always make sure I always have on hand when it comes to that time of the month as my skin turns more combo/oily the closer my period gets. And the Soap and Glory Miracle Moisture Mask is good for days when my skins a little drier and in need of a moisture boost. Plus they were all on offer so it would have been rude to not pick them up. 

                          

A new sheet mask that I did pick up though is from Masque Bar. Their Rose Gold Foil Sheet Mask is one of a few new releases. Enriched with Soybean Extract, Mushroom Extracr and Witch Hazel Water this mask is designed to nourish and hydrate skin, leaving it looking and feeling supple and softer to the touch. I may have also brought it because I'm a rose gold addict and liked the idea of wearing this on Snapchat or Instastories. 

                             

Another mask that I'd never tried before comes from Nip and Fab. Their Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Mask is a gentler version of their Extreme Fix Bubble Mask. Enriched with Glycolic Acid this mask aims to smooth, retexturise, exfoliate and reveal skin's radiance. It's on the pricier side for a sheet mask but if it works aswell as the other Nip and Fab products then it's all worth it. 

                          

Primark are trying at the moment to add Korean style skincare products into their skincare range at the moment. So far there are only two sheet masks in the range and I picked them both up. It wasn't so much what they claimed to do for my skin but what ingredients that they claim to include. And at £1.50 a pop it doesn't really matter if they don't do anything good or bad to the skin. 

                          

And another sheet mask that I picked up from Primark is this Hydro Gel Mask With Hyaluronic Acid. I brought this to compare to the Soap and Glory Miracle Moisture Mask as they sound to be similar in both feel and result. It's was a little pricier than the other sheet masks that you can find in Primark but I like to think that means it's going to be a little better quality wise than the slightly cheaper ones. 

                            

Another part of Primark's Korean Inspired skincare range are these bubble masks. These are different to your standard bubble mask as they're more of a liquid formula than a sheet mask. And again it wasn't the premise of what they could do for my skin that interested me but what ingredients they were claiming to include. 

                            

And to top off the mask part of this haul, I restocked on my under eye patches. The Soap and Glory. Rodial and Primark under eye patches are all repurchases but there is another there that I haven't tried before. 

                          

Now onto the rest of the skincare I've brought. The first is a new facial spritz which is comparable to the Pixi Wake Up Vitamin Mist. The B Vitamin Facial Spritz contains a mixture of Cucumber Juice and Caffeine to invigorate and awaken the skin. It's lightweight, refreshing and so far has actually worked well on my skin. It's still early days but I'm already loving this product. 

                             

The next new release I picked up is an eye cream/gel. Optimum have released a new range of products called PhytoEnergise. All the products contain a mix of caffeine and skin energising ingredients to help brighten and revitalise skin. The first of the range that I picked up is their Refreshing Eye Gel. It's comes in the form of a rollerball which helps reduce the signs of puffiness and helps makes eyes look more awake and refreshed. I've only been using this for a couple of days and I'm not quite sure if I like it or not but I'm going to perceive and see if I can see a difference. 

                            

And the other product from Optimums new range I picked up were this Glycolic Cleansing Pads. These are very reminiscent of the Nip and Fab Glycolic Fix Pads. They don't contain as much Glycolic acid as the Nip and Fab but they contain enough to make it feel like their doing something for your skin. I've used them over the last couple of nights and skin feels exfoliated and retexturise but I'm going to use a few more to see if there is a big difference between them and the Nip and Fab pads. 

                          

A base duo that I didn't plan on buying but couldn't resist after hearing people rave about them. The first product is the Make Up Revolution Foundation Stick. I've worn this already and I'm shocked by how good this is. I'm not going to go into too much detail but a full review will be up once I've had time to really play with this product. And to go with it, I picked up the Make Up Revolution Conceal And Define Concealer. This has been dubbed a Tarte Shape Tape Concealer dupe and I can totally see why. Again I'm not going to go into too much detail but I'm blown away by the coverage, finish and lasting power of both of these. 

                           

Another base product I brought was a repurchase from Rosie For Autograph. Her Sheer Finish Complexion Enhancer is my go to Spring/Summer base and I'm very nearly out of my current tube. And with Spring trying to break through, I know I'm going to be reaching for more often than not in the upcoming months. And with Marks and Spencer's offering my ten percent off this weekend, I couldn't resist picking another up. 

                           

Another base product I repurchased is the Barry M Hydro Fix Primer Water is one of two primers I use on an everyday basis. I've gone through countless bottles of this but find that a bottle of this actually lasts a long time. It's lightweight, hydrating and helps keep my make up place without making it look like an oil slick or sweaty mess. 

                            

Over the last month I've really been into filling in my eyebrows. I mentioned the Rosie For Autograph Brow Pencil is my March Favourites, and am still loving it for just filling in my brows but I needed to buy a new one. It's purely because the pencil is so soft (not a complaint) so it needs sharpening more often which essentially means I've gone through a lot of product since I started using it again. It gives brows such a natural yet defined look and the best bit about this product, it has a spoolie on the end which means I don't have to hunt down a spoolie to brush everything through. 

                             

And the last product I picked up was another repurchase, this time from Benefit. I love a good lash primer and have tried a few decent ones from brands such as Maybelline and Barry M but I always find myself going back to Benefit's They're Real Tinted Lash Primer. I don't know what it is about this product but I prefer how it makes my lashes look both with and without mascara and I can't live without it. I only brought a travel sized tube though as I didn't want to buy a full size and have it dry out before I could finish it. 

Spring Lip Edit

                         

I'd love to start this post talking about how the weathers warming up meaning Springs on it's way but as I write this there is snow on the ground and a cold snap that calls for nothing but pj days and copious amounts of hot chocolate. That all being said, today I'm going to be talking you through some of my lip choices for the peeks of Spring weather we've been getting here and there.

                           

Rosie For Autograph in Silk Cami 

The first lipstick that I've been wearing a lot and is perfect for Spring is Silk Cami from Marks and Spencer's. Part of the Rosie For Autograph collection, this lipstick is creamy, comfortable and long wearing. It's looks like your standard nude shade in the bullet but when it's on the lips there is a slight peach undertone running through it that warms up both the shade and your complexion. And because of that undertone, it's perfect for a multitude of skintones including those with extremely fair tones. 

                            

Rosie For Autograph in Camisole Blush 

Another Rosie For Autograph lipstick that's perfect for Spring is the shade Camisole Blush. It's a muted pale pink shade that looks gorgeous on its own but also looks great when mixed with slightly darker shades. And because it's more of a satin finish it's a lot more comfortable to wear for a longer period of time. And the best bit about these lipsticks is that they don't budge, you can easily eat or drink with minimal transfer. 

                             

Rosie For Autograph in Rosie Lips 

And the last lipstick from Rosie For Autograph that I can't get enough of is the shade Rosie Lips. This is brighter shade than the previous two, with gorgeous raspberry undertones. Normally I wouldn't wear brighter shades that weren't matte but because these have more of a satin finish, it doesn't look as bad as I think they look. And again it's got minimal transfer when eating and drinking and reapplication is a dream. 

                          

Maybelline Color Sensational Matte in Smoky Rose 

A matte finish shade that I'd completely forgotten I had until I reshuffled my collection for Spring is this one from Maybelline. Called Smoky Rose, this is a pretty peachy pink shade that has a nude undertone  which won't wash you out if you have a fairer complexion. It's a creamy matte formula; that stays in place, but doesn't dry lips out or leaves them feeling powdery and crumbly. It does transfer slightly but reapplication isn't a struggle with it's creamy formula. 

                           

NYX Matte Lipstick in Whipped Caviar 

As you can see there is a slight theme in the shades I've been loving recently. Whipped Caviar from NYX is no different. It's a peachy pink shade that has a nude undertone which makes it easier to wear for fairer skintones. It's creamy but won't slip, slide or smudge easily with minimal transfer if you eat or drink. As far as matte finishes go, this is one of the more forgiving finishes. It's creamy but will stay in place for as long as you want it to but it won't dry lips out or turn powdery and crumbly. 

                            

NYX Lingerie Liquid Lipstick in Exotic 

And again my next choice is a peachy shade that suits a mutiltude of skintones, including fair complexions. It's one of the trickier shades to wear but with enough prep beforehand it can look gorgeous. The NYX Lingerie Liquid Lipstick is your typical liquid lipstick formula. It's thin enough to layer but because it dries down to more of a powdery matte finish, it's not advisable to layer it. However on the lips it's gorgeous, it's bold but still understated and is guaranteed to get you a ton of compliments. 

                           

Stila Stay All a Day Liquid Lipstick in Aria

Another liquid lipstick that I envisioning looking gorgeous throughout the Spring is the shade Aria from Stila. It's a bit of a hybrid shade with tones of pink and purple running throughout. It's not the usual colour I'd reach for during Spring but something's been really drawing me to it. It's again your standard liquid lipstick but these do generally last all day without crumbling or fading. It is a shade that does require a bit of work though as it can look patchy if you apply too much in one area. However if you apply this in thin layers then you won't have any trouble getting an highly pigmented, long wearing, gorgeous shade. 

                            

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Sogno 

Another Stila liquid lipstick I love for this time of year is their shade Sogno. It's a cool toned brown shade that works well with my fairer complexion and doesn't wash me out like other similar shades do. It's long wearing, comfortable and works perfectly as an everyday lip colour that doesn't budge. I especially love pairing it with khaki as it really plays well with it and with my skin tone. 

                             

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Patina 

A classic shade from Stila which is not only the perfect everyday shade but gorgeous for Spring is Patina. And again it's long wearing, comfortable to wear and it doesn't go crumbly or flaky even if your lips aren't in the best condition. I luckily have three of these little sample sized tubes in my collection, meaning I don't have to worry about running out anytime soon which is good considering how often I wear it. 

                                

Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink in Ruler

A liquid lipstick of sorts that's not only been my go to shade since it's release but is the perfect pink for Spring comes from Maybelline. Their SuperStay Matte Ink in the shade Ruler is that perfect mix of raspberry pink alongside a more muted pink tone. It suits a whole host of skintones, especially fairer tones. And I call it a liquid lipstick of sorts as it applies and lasts as long as a liquid lipstick but it doesn't dry down to your traditional liquid lipstick finish. It still has a slight tackiness to it that makes it more comfortable to wear and allows you to extend the wear of your lip colour without worrying if it's going to crumble or crack at all. And it doesn't transfer. I can easily and happily eat greasy burgers or a meal and this won't transfer in the slightest. It's a godsend for long days and meals where you don't want to be worrying about retouching your lipstick throughout the day. 

                                 

Milani Amour Matte Lip Cream in Precious

And the last lip colour I want to feature in this edit, is one I didn't think I'd be featuring as my first impressions of this weren't as good as I hoped. However on rediscovering it, I've fallen in love with it. Milani's Amour Matte Lip Cream in the shade Precious a gorgeous peachy pink shade, that really warms up fairer skintones as well as looking gorgeous on deeper complexions. It's mousse like in texture and doesn't leave lips feeling zapped of moisture when it dries down. It doesn't last as long as I'd like it to but I think a lot of that is due to the formula. However reapplication is easy for which I don't mind if it transfers a bit.