Get ready with me

Join me on my bad skin day make up routine

Bare faced, sleepy and spotty

Lasting perfection concealer,  Collection 2000 - Fair 1

Mac Studio Fix NC15

Nars - Orgasm

Loreal false lash telescopic mascara- Magnetic black

Loreal Gel intenza eye liner 01 pure black

Avon Fucia fun

Finished

Thank goodness for make up!

xx

My £6 haul

I went for a stroll today in my local town with a friend for coffee and grabbed some serious bargains! This is a very random assortment of things but i thought i would share.

I spotted this photo frame in a charity shop, other than being a little dusty it is in perfect condition. It was my sisters birthday yesterday (Happy Birthday Sis!) and i plan to get a nice picture for this to add to her presents when i next see her.

Sister Photo Frame 50p RSPCA charity shop

I am going away in September to Cyprus with five of mine and James friends which is very exciting. We are however completely skintos and are toying with the idea of just taking hand luggage to save on the £40 charge for a case. We will be staying at our friends parents apartment and can wash clothes so we should be able to do it, i always find i wear the same things over again on holiday and never wear half of the things i packed. I was only last night looking for a hand luggage sized suitcase but found they were either rubbish quality or £20 each - in which case we could just share a big case! So i was very happy to spot this gem in Scope for a mere £2.50! It is real leather with only a few scuffs on the outside, lots and lots of year left in it. If we decide on using a case James will be able to use this when he goes away with work and look very professional. Actually when i went into a little gift shop today with this the lady got excited thinking i was a jewellery agent bringing things in for her to buy!

Leather weekend bag £2.50

Inside main compartment

Laptop compartment

This is a very random purchase. In my town there is a lovely kitchen shop but it is very expensive. We saw a sale sign in the window and decided to have a nosey. Ever the bargain hunter i saw the magic "Everything £1" basket and headed straight to it. I found these, Ecozone washing balls. They contain no harsh chemicals, last 150 washes, wash at 30 degrees, antibacterial, and best of all the starter set was reduced from £11.99 to just a quid! There was also the full size eco stain remover and replacement Eco Balls for £1 each too!
I must admit i am not holding out high hopes but i will be thrilled if they work, i do love the artificial but lovely smell of my fabric conditioner and the instructions warn you that it is hard to get used to - i shall persevere. These will also save me a pretty penny if they work - my usual wash stuff costs £6 for 30 tablets and then fabric conditioner on top. I have a wash load in now so if anybody is interested how these go let me know, i might pick up another set for a give-away tomorrow?

Eco Balls set £3

And that is everything i have to share for today - not the most exciting haul for you but i am chuffed with my bargains.

Lots of love

New phone

Yay, bye bye vintage blackberry..... Hello swish samsung! Now i can blog on the go which is fantabulous and i am super dooper excited! Just need to get used to the keyboard now :-D

Speak soon
Xx

My Chanel Lipsticks

I am not a make up snob, i buy from the Pound Shop, Superdrug and swanky make up counters. I love 'drug store' brands as they are much more practical on my measly wage. I do also think that some of my high end products do not justify the price and have found some drug store brands are better quality. Sometimes though it is very nice to treat ones self to a little bit of a luxury splurge. My splurge of choice at the moment is Chanel Lipsticks.

I am going to start with what you really pay for, the packaging and branding. I am not so naive to think that the quality of these lipsticks really justify the inflated price of these lipsticks compared to cheaper alternatives. 

One thing i do enjoy about higher end products is the attention to detail with the packaging. This is totally aesthetic and unessential however to me it screams luxury. There are two types of Chanel lipstick packaging a traditional twist up (albeit great quality black and gold loveliness)  and what i believe to be the new case design, a push to release case. Both are weighty, shiny, embossed with gold and understated glamour. A lipstick that anyone would be proud to display.

Traditional lipstick case

Push button case

In both case designs the product is twisted up to reveal Chanel embossed onto the lipstick. This is the kind of attention to detail i really appreciate. 

I currently own 6 of these beauties, one is on loan (i imagine long term) to my mother bear and two are in the car so i cant share them all right now. 

41 Rouge Allure Charisma - 60 rouge Coco Shine Antigone- 197 Rouge Allure  Evivree

A few fun facts for you is that the designers decided on metal casings for these lipsticks as when women reached into their bags they found a cool refreshing tube, the scent of the lipsticks is rose, raspberry and vanilla and designers tried hundreds of designs to get the right click when you close the tube. Wowzers.

Of the Chanel lipsticks i have tried i prefer the Rouge Allure line more than the Coco shine as the consistency is creamier and lasts longer. As you can see from the swatches below, all of them have a shimmer however i feel the Coco shine is a mix between a gloss and a lipstick and is much more sheer.

Top Rouge allure charisma, Middle, Rouge Allure Evivree, Bottom, Rouge coco shine Antigone

There is a wide selection of colours and finishes in the Chanel range, however i feel the stock photos when you buy on-line do not do them justice or are not true to colour. Something you cant see on-line is of the lipsticks i own have understated glitter which i love but others may not. I would advise people to visit a Chanel counter to try them before you buy them, that was you might also bag some samples, winner!

The Rouge allure lipsticks wear a little better than the Coco Shine, but all of them last well. Lipsticks always require touch ups, they are subject to drinking, eating and kissing (if your lucky!) so i don't expect miracles. These do last longer than some of my drug store lipsticks and when they do wear off leave a nice tint to the lip. 

At around £24 these are pricey. I have purchased a couple of mine on-line for a much bigger discount and was given one as a gift to save on cost. Please be aware there are fakes flying around eBay at the moment and have almost exact packaging to the real deals. I was stung by an on-line fake (i paid £15 for it) and instantly noticed the poor quality, plastic smell (Chanel have a yummy scent) and the lack of the embossed Chanel logo, i got a refund. 

They are luxurious and make me feel special when i have them on and for me that makes it worth the extra pounds. 

The best present ever...

Hello my darlings!

Today the weather is miserable and i was also a little miserable too. I began to tidy my house, did the kitchen, gave up and started watching episode after episode of Peep Show. Then a knock at my door turned my day right around. A parcel, a massive parcel at that, was handed to me. This parcel has been sent from Danielle, a beauty box swapper for the Queens Jubilee Swap (any excuse ladies!). As you can tell from my blog, i am a huge fan of swaps, there is nothing more exciting than opening beauty gifts in my opinion. I have swapped with Danielle before, you can see that post here. I thought i would share what i received with you as i personally love reading these sort of posts.

Such pretty wrapping

Made from a recycled bottle

I bought this lipstick off ebay - I had no idea Danielle was the seller! 

Oh my gosh

How seriously stunning

Is this?!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!

 I am totally blown away. This is the best present ever! Its so strange to think somebody knows exactly what i like when they have never met me. I really hope Danielle likes her gifts as much as i like mine.

I will be doing some serious reviewing this month with all my new things!

A very very happy,
Kerri
xxxxxxxxxx

A blog from Blackpool - Swap

I have discovered lots of new people from starting blogging and getting involved in the beauty community and its really great. What is more fun is that i have got back in touch with friends from Blackpool who i have not spoken to in years, Danielle the brains behind A blog from Blackpool and the lovely Neeny from Neenys wish list.

Picture stolen from Facebook 

 It is great to get back in contact after all these years after college, uni and moving away. I love reading their blogs, especially the Blackpool ones as i miss home lots and reminds me why i love my home town so much.

Danielle suggested we did a swap of things we don't use as she had a few things she thought i would like. If you have read my blog you will know that i love doing swaps, there is nothing better than a surprise parcel at the door - its like Christmas!

I have been a pretty bad swapping partner and still have her parcel here - all ready to post off tomorrow, i really hope Dani likes it. 

I have a disclaimer, two products have found their way to my make up bag, i could not wait and my camera battery died before i could take pictures. I got a lovely lipstick and a gosh loose powder in Paradise (stunning!) So here is *most* of what i received...

Exciting

 Dani has blogged and reviewed these masks on her 100 day challenge and looked splendid. I always see these in Superdrug and Boots but never buy them so will be excited to try these out. I think they are around the £1.50 mark, If you would like to see Dani modelling a face mask click here

 

Two sparkly nail varnishes - cant beat a bit of glitter. I have tried the Technic nail varnish in Carnival before after i heard it was a dupe for OPI Rainbow Collection and loved it. I'm very happy to have a back up in my collection. I have never tried a W7 glitter polish before but can confirm this is great and gives a good glittery layer in just one coat, i am modelling my sparkly nails as i type. 

I have wanted to try this for ages, and other than on my hand at debhenams i have not had the chance too without paying the hefty price tag. I got pretty excited when i saw this and i really like it, but i do not think it is much different to the GOSH primer which is much cheaper. I will keep this one in my going away bag as its the perfect size for travelling and does do what it says on the tin. 

Now my favourite item, Mac Gentle Coral tinted lip balm. I proper love this, lots. It feels lovley on my lips but i would not say it is a very moisturising lip balm - however the colour is BEAUT. It has just the right coulour pay off for the day time and i have found this perfect to have in my handbag to spruce myself up during the day. This has become a firm fave of mine and will last me forever. Just as a disclaimer for Dani, this product did not look so messy when she sent it me, i have just used it so much! As Dani sent it me im guessing this is not quite for her - thats why i love swapping - one ladys junk is anothers treasure and all that jazz. 

I am tres excited to try out the Maybelline colour tattoo, im hoping the silver base will work well on a sexy smoky eye. I have not had chance to play with this yet but will let you know how i get on with it.

As i said i got two more items that i will picture and add to this post when i am more organised. Speaking of organisation i have been terrible and still have Dani's here - its being posted tomorrow after a job interview (wish me luck!)

Here is a sneak peek for you darling

Dani's parcel was all wrapped in pretty paper so it was like my birthday and i got a cute little note which is now at home on my hallway pin board of fame. 

If you have not visited Danielle's blog please do, she is super dooper cool and updates regularly unlike another blogger i know (me)

Have you taken part in a blog swap, if so link me to any posts as i love reading about them!

Lots of love

xxxx