Affordable Treats

Pretty Polishes

2012-02-07T06:43:00.000-08:00

China Glaze Dance Baby, China Glaze Make Some Noise, China Glaze Secret Peri-Wink-Le, Color Club Gimme A Grape Big Kiss, Color Club Pucci-Licious and Color Club Age of Aquarius.

Oohh... I want to buy more already! I bought these from eBay seller beautyzone2007. With combined shipping, these worked out to be around £4 each. The Color Club polishes are for my mum and sister, but they may let me borrow them to swatch for you!

The China Glaze Electropop collection contains a lot of shades that are similar to older ones. For example, Make Some Noise is similar to High Hopes, Aquadelic & Kinetic Candy are similar to For Audrey, and Electric Beat is similar to Secret Peri-Wink-Le.

I don't have shades similar to Dance Baby and Make Some Noise, so that's why I bought them (Dance Baby is a cool toned baby pink, and I only have warm toned baby pinks). I chose Secret Peri-Wink-Le over the new Electric Beat because Secret Peri-Wink-Le is slightly more purple.

Expect some Nails Of The Week posts to follow!

Make-up brush guard roll

2012-02-07T05:43:00.000-08:00

After reading Carrie's post, I went straight to eBay and bought a roll of make-up brush guard myself. For those of you who don't know, brush guards help protect your brushes and keep them in shape. I normally use them after I've washed my brushes, so the bristles dry into a neat, condensed shape. This roll of brush guard allows you to cut off the exact amount you need for each individual brush.

I paid 99p, including delivery, for this roll, which is a bargain. The eBay seller I bought mine from is no longer selling them, but if you type 'make up brush guard' in to eBay, similar rolls will pop up.

Spendin'

2012-02-06T07:32:00.000-08:00

The quality of these photos is not the best - I'm back to using my own camera *sob*

Lush - Ocean Salt and Sexy Peel soap - £6.75 for 120g and £3.25 per 100g

I think these products are quite expensive, but I decided to buy them because every time I have resisted buying them, I have regretted it. I had a sample of Ocean Salt and liked it, so wanted to buy a full sized pot. Initially, the pot looks small, but my sample lasted me a couple weeks, so this should last a while. Sexy Peel soap smells like sherbet lemon - bliss. I'm going back to Lush soon, to buy my mum a few bits for Mother's Day. I may buy myself something else while I'm at it (I won't feel guilty then :P).

H&M - Cropped jumper - £7.99

I love the periwinkle shade of this jumper... and the price! H&M's prices are very similar to Primark's. I also bought a cobalt blue, basic cardigan (£9.99) and a white, long sleeved top (£7.99), but they're currently in the wash!

Tesco - Jumper - £12

My camera has made it look like the jumper has dirt on it in the first photo, but this is not the case! This jumper is girlier than most of my clothes, but I really like it.

Primark - Bambi t-shirt - £6

I bought another Disney t-shirt!

Primark - Men's bold printed socks £1.50 each, pack of three cow socks £2, pack of two, pink and white cosy socks £2.50.

I love socks :)

Primark - Shoes - £3 each

I've been looking for these for six months! Last Summer, I bought a couple pairs of these shoes and wore them to death. Since then, size sevens have been out of stock. So, when I saw multiple size sevens on Saturday, I grabbed four pairs; two grey and two navy.

University - Five months in

2012-02-03T00:52:00.000-08:00

I write these update posts when there are significant things to update you with, so here we are! Since my last update post, I've received assignment grades back, produced a practical and sat an exam.

For my assignments, I received a first and two 2:1s. I could not be happier! I had to triple check that what I was seeing was correct. I was expecting 2:2s at most.

For media, I also had to create a practical representing myself. I kept it simple and used an old home video for the visual, and for the audio, I had my family members tell stories about me as a child. I asked the technician if he could transfer my home video onto a DVD, as I hadn't watched it in over ten years. As soon as I started watching it, I knew I had to use it in my practical because it meant so much to me. I loved seeing young versions of my parents, myself as a baby and my old animals. Accompanying the practical, we had to write an evaluation explaining why we made the choices we did. I'm so glad we had to do this because I'm good at explaining myself through words. Even if my practical is rubbish, my evaluation justifies it. My practical is being shown on the big screen in Plymouth, which is exciting!

Yesterday, I had my first exam (for one of my English modules). I'm not sure it went well, but I won't know for certain until I receive a grade for it. If I do have to retake, at least I know what to expect; yesterday, I didn't have a clue what was going to come up!

The last month has shown me that I am coping with University, and it has gave me the confidence to continue. I still don't believe I will be able to cope with the second year, but that's not for months yet. I'm just going to focus on the present!

The Body Shop order

2012-01-18T07:16:00.000-08:00

At the weekend, The Body Shop had yet another offer on, and I couldn't resist. I know I wouldn't have bought these products if it wasn't for the offer, so I haven't really saved any money, but I don't care! The offer was 'spend £30 and get £10 off your order, spend £40 and get £15 off your order or spend £50 and get £25 off your order'. So you could have spent £25 and received £40 worth of products, or spent £25 and received £50 worth of products. Hmm guess which one I went for! The total of the products below would have came to £50.25, but I only paid £25.25. It was also 'buy one get one half price' on skincare, so I saved even more.

Strawberry Gift Bags - £5 each in the sale (originally £10 each)

It was stated that the offer excluded sale items, but that wasn't the case! So I roughly paid about £2.50 for each of these. I really recommend checking out The Body Shop gift sets after Christmas. When they're in the sale, they're a complete bargain. I bought one for a birthday present and one for a Christmas present (I'm on the ball!).

Tea Tree Foaming Cleanser - £4.50

I love foaming cleansers, so thought I'd try this one. With the 'buy one get one half price' and 'save £25' offer, this worked out to be around £1.12.

Vitamin E Face Mist - £7

This is one of those products that isn't a necessity and I wouldn't pay full price for, but thought this was the perfect opportunity to try it. This is going in my bag for those hot days.

Vitamin E Moisture Cream and Vitamin E Intense Moisture Cream - £9 and £11

I prefer pots of moisturiser to tubes, even if they are more unhygienic. I moisturise my eye area in the mornings, before I apply concealer, and I always reach for a pot.

Pomegranate & Raspberry Body, Room & Linen Spritz - £6

This is in a glass bottle! It feels so fancy. I also love the oddly long, thin bottle. It smells fresh and fruity, without being sickly. The only downside to this product is that the scent doesn't last that long.

Strawberry and Mango Hand Cleanse Gels - £2.50 each

These smell delicious! Like the body butters. They're not too expensive either, so I want to buy the coconut and pink grapefruit varieties next.

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Iced Mocha

2012-01-17T12:15:00.000-08:00

Price: Around £3.65, including P&P, from joy017 (great eBay seller)

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils can be used as bases, eyeshadows or eyeliners. Iced Mocha is a shade that works well for all of these purposes. It is light enough to be used as an eyeshadow, yet dark enough to define your lower lash line. The pigmentation is fantastic and formula is so creamy, it glides on effortlessly. Iced Mocha has a pearlescent finish and reflects light well, so really brightens up your eyes. I usually use it on my lower lash line, but if I do wear it as an eyeshadow, I have to wear a primer underneath because I have oily eyelids. If I want more definition, I apply a taupe eyeshadow over the top, on my outer lower lash line, and then Iced Mocha acts as a base. Would I repurchase? Yes, I want to purchase French Fries and Yogurt next :)

More sale purchases

2012-01-08T08:12:00.000-08:00

In this post, I mentioned that very little caught my eye whilst sale shopping and I only purchased some Lush and M&S products. Since then, I have acquired a few more items from the sales.

Accessorize slippers - £9 down from £18.

I needed some new slippers and I love anything navy, so couldn't resist!

New Look bras - £5 down from £15 and £4 down from £12.

The longline bra makes your boobs look great! It looks like something Rihanna would wear. However, I don't think I can wear it as a top like her because the lace detail will tell people it is a bra.

The only things I don't like about these bras are the straps. The front half of them are just material, so they cannot be tightened much.

Snow Globe soap, Ice Blue soap, Satsumo Santa bath bomb, Candy Mountain bubble bars and Cinders bath bomb.

I ordered more products from Lush because I wanted to stock up before the sale ended. Apart from the Ice Blue soap, which was £2.95, everything was half price and cost no more than £1.48. I ordered by phone because the sale was no longer available on the website. I will be ordering by phone in the future because they have more products available that way and the staff are so friendly!

Cacti, yeah!

2012-01-08T07:53:00.000-08:00

If you didn't already know, I like cacti and have ten on my windowsill. I don't like the huge ones you find in the desert though - just the household sized ones :)

I really like these two photos, so thought I would share them with you!

Ooh, pretty. My cacti seem to flower all year round!

This is one of my favourites. I think he's known as a Cleft Stone cactus (well, similar cacti come up when you Google that). He's currently growing two more 'leaves', which you can see in the middle.

Accessorize Merged Baked Blusher in Sensation

2012-01-08T07:24:00.000-08:00

Accessorize Merged Baked Blusher in 5 - Sensation

5 - Sensation and 2 - Starlet

Price: £5 from Superdrug or Accessorize

I'm very fond of Accessorize blushers and have been wearing Starlet for months, so when I noticed there were new shades available, I spent a good five minutes swatching them (which annoyed my sister a great deal because she wanted to go to another store). I settled on the shade Sensation. It's a warm pink, and like the other shades available, is packed with finely milled shimmer to give your cheeks that healthy glow appearance. I've compared Sensation to Starlet so you can see how warm the shade is. The pigmentation is subtle, like the other shades, but you are still able to notice the colour on your cheeks. The only negative aspect to this product is that it can sometimes come across as too shimmery.

Purchases and Presents

2011-12-29T09:01:00.000-08:00

Hello there!

I'll start with the items I purchased in the sales. I only bought from two stores because nothing else caught my eye!

Lush:

The prices mentioned are what I paid after the 50% discount (The Comforter bubble bar is the only thing that wasn't in the Christmas sale). Snow Globe soap chunks £1.25, £1.25 and £2.20, Candy Cane soap chunk £1.38, Angels Delight soap chunk £4.70, So White bath ballistic 95p, Cinders bath ballistic 98p, The Comforter bubble bar £3.99.

As you can see, I love the scent of Snow Globe! I also bought a huge chunk of Angels Delight, which should last me a while.

M&S:

Mugs £3 each

I couldn't help it! I love mugs.

Now, these next items were purchased before Christmas :)

Primark:

T-shirts £6 each

Dressing gown £9.90

2 pack of gloves £1.50, scarf £2.90

I also picked up some bras and grey pumps from Primark, but they're not worth showing!

Wilkinsons:

900ml bottles of TRESemme £1.98 each! Bargain!

I also thought I would include my Christmas presents in this post because they really don't need a post of their own!

The owl cushion was from my sister, the Impulse set was from my auntie and the Misfits box set was from my parents, along with the double bed they bought me last month and the Primark items seen above.

I was only meant to be getting a bed from my parents, so the Misfits box set was a bonus. My dad also let me choose what I wanted from Primark, which was fun :)

"Iz you taking a photo?"

Someday Summary

2011-12-17T07:58:00.000-08:00

Hello! I haven't written one of these in a while because my life has consisted of assignments and shopping...

Lets see... I had my hair cut yesterday for the first time in... eight months I think. My hair is now three inches shorter :) It's still fairly long though and in my lower back region.

I've completely finished my Christmas shopping now. I normally finish in October, so I'm very late this year! I was baking my extended family shortbread, but decided against it and then had trouble finding them presents they'd like!

Speaking of shopping; the January sales will be commencing soon! My sister and I are going in town on the 27th December. I'm going to make sure I'm comfortable, have food and water at hand and have my own shopper bag with me, so I don't have to carry around multiple carrier bags.

I have a practical for media to do over Christmas, so I've booked out one of the University's fancy cameras. All I know is that it is a Nikon. I'm going to take advantage of it and take a lot of photos for my blog :) I used it last night for the first time and here is how the photos turned out:

Jessie (she's not old and grey; that's her colouring!)

Shadow

Cleo

Considering the lighting wasn't great and it was my first time using it, I think the photos came out OK!

Rare Smartie!

I finally have some bulbs for my lamp! The lamp was £10 from Tesco. I've had the flower magnet that is on it for eight years and I love it. The bedding is also from Tesco and was £13.

New Year's Resolutions

2011-12-14T12:41:00.000-08:00

Aka the things we promise to do, but never do for more than a month.
In previous years, I've made multiple New Year's Resolutions. For 2012, I'm just going to focus on one. Maybe then I will actually continue with it!
My New Year's Resolution for 2012 is to exercise. Not exercise more; just exercise. The word more implies that I actually do some now!
Up until 12 years of age, I exercised like most children; I swam, I rode my bike, I ran (I was actually very good and ran in races. Wish I kept doing it really!). From 12 to 16, I participated in P.E lessons a couple times a week, and up until I was 18, I walked 6 miles to school and back (although I don't think this actually counts). Now, I... walk up the stairs a few times a day? haha
I don't want to start exercising to lose weight, but to become healthier, and maybe tone up here and there.
Have you made your New Years Resolutions for 2012 yet?
x

Storing my Lush products

2011-12-13T05:23:00.000-08:00

Now that I have more than a few Lush products, I thought it was about time I found some storage for them!

Jar - Wilkinsons - £2.75. Soaps featured (from bottom to top): The Godmother, Rock Star, Porridge and Snow Globe.

M&S dessert pots. Products featured (from bottom to top): Australian Igloo sugar scrub, Candy Cane bubble bar, Shimmy Shimmy massage bar and bracelets.

The idea for the soap storage came from this video. It's practical and also looks pretty. Every so often, I'm going to open the lid to fill my room with an array of delicious scents.

I wanted small glass jars with lids for the other products, but we don't have any, so I've used some glass dessert pots from M&S. Each pot acts as a lid for the previous one. You can fill the top pot with anything that doesn't need a lid; I chose bracelets. I've crushed the sugar scrub and bubble bar so they're easier to use and I don't waste any product.

Apple pot - Wilkinsons - £2.50. Product featured: Avobath bath bomb.

EDIT: Since this post, I have acquired more products, so I have changed how I store them. I now wrap my soaps individually in cling film and store them in plastic containers. My bath bombs and bubble bars are also stored the same way.

They see me haulin

2011-12-11T05:22:00.001-08:00

They hatin, patrolling, they tryin to catch me spendin dirty.

Yes, I did just quote and tweak the lyrics of that song (and I may have sang my version over five times).

Now that I've completed my assignments, I have some time to blog! I have a few posts coming up, but first, I wanted to show you what I've been buying over the past few weeks.

LUSH:

Sweet Soap of Mine stack £5.25, Snow Globe soap £2.50 per 100g, Porridge soap £2.95 per 100g, Australian Igloo sugar scrub £2.75, Avobath bath bomb £2.99.

Some of these are gifts from people and some are my own purchases. Snow Globe smells SO good! It's fresh, citrusy and sheberty smelling. I rarely have baths, but I repurchased Avobath because it's amazing. It smells delicious (just like Snow Globe because they both have lemongrass in) and it leaves your bath a beautiful lime green colour.

Superdrug:

Maybelline One by One mascara £8.49, MUA clear mascara £1, Accessorize blush in Sensational £5, Biore nose strips £4.06 (half price), Impulse body sprays 95p each (half price).

The Maybelline mascara is a repurchase because I loveee it. I bought another Accessorize blush because I use my current ones everyday. Sensational is a warm pink and really brightens up your complexion.

Blog Sale:

Sleek Pout Paints in Rosette, Milkshake and Minx £1.50 each.

I bought these from Siobhan just because they were a bargain! They're easy to use and I just dab them on with my finger to create a stain.

ASDA:

TRESemme: Salon Silk shampoo and conditioner, Restructuring Deep Conditioning Treatment Masque 3 for £10.

I really like TRESemme products. They're one of the few brands that work well with my hair. The conditioning treatment smells of mayonnaise, but thankfully, it doesn't leave your hair smelling like it!

Amazon:

My Blue Nose Friends: Needles the Woolly Mammoth, Quiver the Emperor Penguin RRP £5 each.

I had an Amazon voucher so actually paid nothing for these! I now have nine of the little cuties.

H&M:

Bambi make-up bag £2.99.

How adorable is this?!

Wilkinsons:

Apple ceramic pot £2.50.

I couldn't resist! I have a thing for apple shaped items at the moment.

Primark:

Footlets £1.50, Seamless Footies £1, Vanilla Snow candle £1.

New Look:

Socks £3.58 for all three pairs (originally £1.99 each), dolly shoes £9.35 (originally £12.99).

New Look had 3 for 2 on their socks and free delivery, as well as the usual 10% off for students. They're so cute! I bought the hamster ones because I always joke that I look like a hamster (because of my fat cheeks). I then placed a second order because New Look had 20% off and free delivery again. I had a sudden urge to buy some red dolly shoes and I don't regret it because they'll add some colour into my boring outfits.

Tesco:

Boots £12.50.

These are a complete bargain! I find it hard to find boots I like because I only like a particular style; suede looking, slouchy ankle boots. I only like a certain type of brown shade too. I don't like bright, chestnut brown and prefer them to be quite dark, like the boots above.

ASOS:

Cath Kidston: Oil Cloth Book Bag £11.50 (originally £18), Cotton Book Bag £10 (originally £16), Zip Top Purse £3.50 (originally £6).

A few weeks ago, ASOS had a sale on their bags and because I'd been looking for shopper bags for University, I placed two in my virtual basket. I've been using the first one because I absolutely love the print and it is waterproof, so is handy for the horrible weather we've been having! The purse was for my sister. We were expecting it to be purse sized because 1. It's called a purse and 2. The website makes it look really small. However, when it arrived, it was the size of a make-up bag! I'm not too bothered though because I can use it for something else or give it to someone as a gift.

University - Three months in

2011-12-10T14:15:00.001-08:00

I made it through the first term! Yipee!
Lectures in the last few months have been fine and I've understood what has been taught. Two out of three of my modules are a mix between a lecture and a seminar. The atmosphere is relaxed and informal, just like my A Level classes used to be.
Assignments... lets start with the fact that I've managed to complete four! I don't believe in myself when it comes to essays (well, I don't believe in myself full stop!), so I'm proud that I've managed to do them. It wasn't easy peasy lemon squeezy though. To begin with, I found it hard to find the motivation to write them. Towards the end however, I worked hard, because I had no choice. If I worked as hard as I did in the beginning, I would have finished them weeks earlier! I still managed to get them in on time though, so all is good :) Over Christmas, I just have one assignment and a media practical to do (the assignment looks so hard though). Then, at the end of January, I have one exam.
In terms of friends; I have some! I've become close with a girl and a few guys, and they really do cheer me up in our Friday classes, after a long week. We went bowling the other week, which was good (we were all terrible though!), but apart from that, we haven't seen much of each other outside of University. This is because a few of them live hours away and catch the train to Uni. We bought each other Christmas presents and I have a few LUSH products to use up now!
Overall, the last three months have been good! Can I make it to the end of the academic year though?
x

I've been spending money, yet again!

2011-11-12T06:47:00.000-08:00

I bought a lot of the following things weeks ago, but I never got round to posting about them!

Boots - 17 Wild Metallics cream eyeshadow in Wild Nude - £3.99

I rarely wear eyeshadow, but I thought this would slowly ease me into wearing it because it's a subtle, day time shade.

eBay (Joy017) - NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Iced Mocha and NYX Concealer in a Jar in Green - Around £3.50 including P&P and around £5.40 including P&P

I've been using the Jumbo Eye Pencil on my lower lash line and then applying a taupe eyeshadow over the top. I needed another green concealer, so I thought I would try this :) I highly recommend this eBay seller. Great prices and fast delivery from America.

The Body Shop - Inflatable Bath Pillow and Vitamin E Facial Cleansing Bar - Originally £8 and £3

The Body Shop had yet another discount code floating around (this time it entitled you to 30% off) so I thought it was the perfect time to get what I needed. The bath pillow is one of my dad's Christmas presents. He's really hard to get for, so I tend to buy him things I know he'll get a lot of use out of. The cleansing bar is my favourite cleanser and is my third one!

Claire's Accessories - Ladybird and fish earrings - £3.50 and £6.50

I love the ladybird earrings and have been wearing them a lot recently, which makes a change because I haven't worn earrings in over a year. The fish earrings are part of my sister's Christmas present :)

H&M - Basic cardigans - £9.99 each

I was looking for some basic blue cardigans for ageesss, so was delighted to see some in H&M for a great price. These have been getting a lot of wear because blue is my favourite colour.

Primark - Thick tights - £3 (I also bought some other thick cotton tights, which were down to £1.90)

I am really impressed with these tights! They're very opaque. A lot of tights I've tried in the past haven't been very opaque once they've stretched around your legs.

I've also just got a new bed (my Christmas present from my parents). For it, I've bought a new duvet, two duvet cover sets and two fitted sheets. I still need to buy some new pillows, a valance, lamp and fairy lights. Here is a phone camera snap shot of one of the duvet covers:

It's from Tesco and was £13.

Does this look familiar?

2011-11-08T07:51:00.000-08:00

Firstly, sorry for the quality of this photo. Us bloggers are having a difficult time photographing with the dark lighting we've been having!

So, does this necklace look familiar to you? It is in fact identical to the one seen in Accessorize stores. However, mine is from eBay. You can buy it from this seller for around £1.60, including P&P. Before buying costume jewellery from high street stores, I would suggest looking on eBay first if you would like to save yourself some pennies. It all comes from the same place anyway!

Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo!

2011-11-03T07:55:00.000-07:00

source

(The Fairy Hobmother is currently out running errands, so Fairy Godmother has offered to take her place until she gets back)

The Fairy Hobmother paid me a little visit today. She was ever so kind and gave me an Amazon voucher! I have no idea what to treat myself to. I'm so indecisive!

"Who?" you ask. The Fairy Hobmother is from Appliances Online UK and has been bringing joy to bloggers across the blog land.

Leave a comment below with what you would like The Fairy Hobmother to gift you, and she may just pay you a visit!

Someday Summary

2011-11-02T09:08:00.000-07:00

Hello!

I haven't written one of these in ageesss (since the 1st September to be exact). I simply have not had anything to write about because my life is so boring. I don't really have anything significant to write now, but I had the urge to blog.

Since my last Someday Summary, I have changed my blog header and theme. I think these plums and purples are more appropriate for Autumn/Winter. I've also added a disclaimer page, just so I can back myself up in any future disagreements. What else? Oh, I've been posting more this week (this is my third post so far, if you include Sunday). Other posts that should be up very soon include a 'haul' (again), a necklace dupe and a mineral make-up review.
I've nearly finished my Christmas shopping (I normally finish it in October). I'm only buying proper presents for my mum, dad and sister this year. For my extended family, I'm making them homemade shortbread. I'm going to put the shortbread in pretty boxes and decorate with edible glitter.
I handed in my first assignment a few weeks ago. It only had to be 500 words, but I'm still proud. In the next month, I have to write another three, which are a lot bigger. I'm extremely stressed, but if I gather the readings I need and knuckle down, it shouldn't be too hard.

I saw this top in Bershka and couldn't resist taking a photo. They had some nice tops in actually, including smurf ones!

I bought another cactus! This is my tenth one. It's from Lidl and cost £1.99. I don't think I'm going to buy anymore, just because I don't have any room left on my windowsill! It's an agavoides and from the Google images I've seen, it flowers beautifully.

I like taking photos for my Someday Summaries on my phone. I don't have to make them 'perfect' and obsess over details.

New Montagne Jeunesse Face Masks

2011-11-01T07:38:00.000-07:00

Price: £1.09 each

Today, I will be talking about three new Montagne Jeunesse face masks* out of four, with the other one being Iced Crystal.

Hot Chocolate

Doesn't this one sound perfect for Winter? I love self heating masks. They're probably my favourite type of face mask actually. Combine this with the subtle scent of hot chocolate and it really does feel like you're putting the popular hot drink for cold nights on your face (that doesn't sound very nice, but trust me, it is). Be warned though, this is very dark, like chocolate sauce, so it does make a mess when you're rinsing it off. The results? My skin felt extremely cleansed and smooth, and I could no longer feel the pores on my nose.

Very Berry
This lilac number does exactly what it says on the ~~tin~~ packet. It left my skin very cleansed and moisturised. Because my skin was so moisturised, I had to pop a little powder on my nose in the morning, but it wasn't a problem. It did sting ever so slightly when I first applied it, but most of the face masks I've tried do this, apart from the self heating ones.

Virgin Olive
This was the mask I was least excited to try, simply because I prefer chocolate and berries over olive oil! Thankfully, the mask doesn't look like oil and is a mint green cream. I'm not keen on the scent because it smells like olives. It is only subtle though and disappears as it dries. Again, this mask left my skin very cleansed and smooth, especially around my nose area.

Before this review, I had forgotten how well face masks worked. I got it into my head that they slightly cleansed, and that was about it. Also, I've never reviewed face masks, so in the past, I didn't pay as much attention to the effects they had on my skin.
I'm in the mood to try some more now. With the face masks being £1.09 on their website (click here) and delivery only 50p (or free when you spend over £7.50), it's not going to break the bank if you indulge a little.

Just for the laughs, here is a (rubbish webcam) photo of me wearing the Hot Chocolate self heating mask:

Gorr ;)

Oh and, does anyone else scrunch their face up and pick at the mask once it's dry? I can't resist!

*PR samples

Nails Of The Week!

2011-10-30T14:25:00.000-07:00

Price: £11 (I think it has been discontinued though because it was in this month's GlossyBox)

Hello! For the upcoming week, I'm wearing Leighton Denny's Babydoll nail polish. It's a warm, baby pink which is very different to my usual cool toned baby pink polishes. Application was hunky dory and I only needed to apply two coats for an even, opaque finish.

In this month's GlossyBox, I actually received Sex Kitten, a pearlescent blue, but I wasn't keen on it, so I hopped on over to here and swapped it.

Nails Of The Week!

2011-10-25T05:02:00.000-07:00

Hello all! This is my first nail polish post in two months! The good thing about not wearing polish for that long is, your nails return to their natural colour, rather than having a yellow tinge.

This is Barry M's Berry Ice Cream, which is currently £1.80 in the ASOS sale (click here to bag this bargain). I know, I know, it's not an Autumn shade. I'm not one to colour code my nails to the seasons. The silver lining to wearing a Summery shade this time of year is that your nails can brighten your damp, dark days.

The formula of this shade is a little thinner than other Barry M nail polishes I have, taking three coats to achieve an even finish. I do prefer pastel shades to be less opaque though, because I find that opaque pastels can look a little tip-exy.

Toodle pip!

Pudsey inspired nails for BBC Children in Need

2011-10-25T01:40:00.000-07:00

This year, Children in Need have launched a range of Pudsey inspired products to help raise money for disadvantaged children in the UK. One of these products are these colourful, spotty nail wraps from Nail Rock. These are available to buy from Boots for £6.65, and 25% (£1.66) of the money will go to Children in Need. I think they are a great way to raise money for the charity; you can have beautiful nails and help a great cause at the same time :)

Oops! I did it again...

2011-10-19T08:55:00.000-07:00

Yes, I did just quote a Britney song. It popped into my head and I just couldn't shake it! At least it's more interesting than 'recent purchases'...

As the title suggests, I did it again. 'It' being spending money. Hehe.

Primark:

Winter socks (pack of two) £2.50, knee high owl socks £2

Oh how I love Primark socks...

Long sleeved pj top £5

Pj bottoms £5 and £3

New Look:

Suede desert boots £23.99 (£29.99 before student discount)

White string vest £2.49, teal vest £3.99

'Shell pink' loose boxy t-shirt £7.99

I attempted to take a photo of me wearing this, but the photos didn't do it justice! The back has a sheer panel (which you can see near the tag).

Republic:

Soul Cal deluxe hoodie £24 (£30 before student discount)

John Lewis:

Remington Pearl straighteners £39.95

I have wanted these for agessss! I wanted them even more after buying the curling wand from this range, which is amazing. The original price of these is £80-90. Boots currently have them on offer for £56 and I was going to buy them from there, but thankfully I saw them on the John Lewis site for a lot less!

Here is a rubbish webcam photo of my hair this morning, after using the straighteners:

Topshop:

Cream blush in High Five £5.40 (£6 before student discount)

I'm not a fan of Topshop. I think many of their items are ugly and overpriced. However, I've wanted one of their blushes for ages. High Five hasn't been talked about much because Head Over Heels has been receiving most of the attention. So far, I really like it. It's very pigmented, so I have to use a light hand when applying! One thing I don't like about this product is the white packaging. It's already filthy!

ASOS:

Barry M Nail Paints in Pink Flamingo and Berry Ice Cream £1.80 each in the sale

I've previously owned Pink Flamingo, but I made the mistake of letting my sister borrow it. She used it so much that I was left with half a bottle of gloopy polish. I've wanted to try Berry Ice Cream for a while, so this was the perfect time to do so.

eBay:

My Blue Nose Friends- Thomas the Hippo and Twiggy the Giraffe.

I've wanted these for ages, but they're no longer sold in stores and are rare to find. The ones you do find are going for stupid prices on eBay. Thankfully, I didn't pay too much over the retail price for these.

I've also ordered some other bits and bobs from eBay, but they're coming from Hong Kong and won't be here just yet!

Sanex Zero% shower gels

2011-10-16T09:32:00.000-07:00

Price: £1.89 each

'Sometimes we put more artificialchemicals than are necessary onto our skin. That’s why the new SanexZero% range has been specifically developed to contain only the ingredients youneed for moisturised and healthy skin. SanexZero% is also mindful of the environment. With its minimal impact on aquaticsystems and its biodegradable formulation, it has been approved by the EuropeanEco-Label.'

Sanex Zero% shower gels lather well and leave your skin squeaky clean, proving that you don't need a lot of ingredients for a product to be effective. They're not something I'd personally choose to buy, because I prefer my shower gels to have a scent, but if you have sensitive skin, I think these will work well for you.

Here is a video, metaphorically displaying how many chemicals we put on our skin from day to day:

I can imagine passers by would have thought it was a little weird, but it proves Sanex's point perfectly.

PR sample

Lil Lets new packaging

2011-10-04T06:43:00.000-07:00

Periods are not often talked about. Not only in the blogging world, but in real life too. They should be though, because they're natural and healthy. So when I was contacted and asked to review the new Lil Lets range, I agreed.

I was sent the sanitary towels to review. I wanted to get a sense of the whole range, so I then went out and bought two packs/tubs of tampons.

I've been using these for the last week and here are my thoughts:

Fresh Lock Ultra Towels - Long, £1.99 from Boots.

A few key features:

Ultra slim towel for a comfortable fit
Wings for extra security
Breathable ultra soft non-woven cover
Twice as absorbent as the leading brand
Towels individually wrapped in soft grey whisper wrappers for ultimate discretion
Packaged in a pretty drawstring bag with a ribbon and removable band

Teens Ultra Towels - Day and Night variants, £1.59 from Boots.

A few key features:

Shorter in length and narrower in width
Ultra thin with wings
Super absorbent with a breathable soft non-woven cover
Individually wrapped in whisper wrappers for ultimate discretion
Packaged in a pretty drawstring bag with a ribbon and removable sleeve

Silk Comfort Compact Tampons (Regular and Super Plus pictured above), £2.39 but currently £1.75 at Boots.

A few key features:

Applicator expands widthways for ease of use
Packaged in patterned, cylinder tubs

Overall, I like the range. A lot of effort has gone into it, from the drawstring bags and tubs, to the actual products. These features ensure that your time of the month is a little more pleasant. I think it also helps girls realise that periods shouldn't be seen as ugly. I really like that the products are in whisper wrappers, so you can change your towels or tampons without everyone in the public toilets knowing. I also like the ultra long towels. When wearing them, they gave me confidence that I wasn't going to leak.

Is there anything I would change?

This is me being picky, but I would love the drawstring bags to be made of fabric. I could then re-use them for storing bits and bobs!

I know the expandable applicator of the tampons is a main feature with the new design, so they can't really change it, but I would prefer them to be made out of cardboard. I normally use cardboard applicators and haven't had any problems with them. They're also better for the environment.

Recent purchases

2011-10-04T05:45:00.000-07:00

I'm about to write a review, but to warm up my blogging mojo, I thought I'd show you what I've recently bought!

Primark knickers £2.50-£3 per pack

I needed new underwear and I really like Primark's, so I stocked up! I love my briefs ;)

Primark cardigans £6 each

I've been looking for simple cardigans for ageesss, so was pleased when I saw these. They're not as long as the ones I normally wear, but I still like them.

New Look stretchy vests £3.99 and £2.49 for the string ones (navy one is in the wash)

I always wear a vest under my tops and needed some new ones. These are great quality and I'm definitely going to buy more.

Rymans academic week to view diary £4.99, WHSmith memory stick £9.99

I was going to buy a Filofax, but I only wanted one for the academic diary, so when I saw this one in Rymans, I snapped it up. It's simple and does the job :)

ASDA mugs £1.25 each

I bought a couple more mugs... I'm getting quite the collection!

Samsung Galaxy Ace, phone cases 3 for £2.79

I upgraded my phone. My previous phone was the Samsung Tocco Lite and I knew I wanted a touch screen Samsung again. I bought the cases from an eBay seller and I'm really impressed. Definitely going to buy a few more colours!

University - Two weeks in

2011-09-30T15:28:00.000-07:00

Good evening, can you believe it's October tomorrow?! Each year is getting faster and faster.

I thought I'd write these little updates about University, not just for myself, but for other people to get an insight to my life and my experiences of being a student.

Oh, by the way, I'm living at home. Future students, your experiences are going to be completely different because of where you live, what part of the country you live in, what University you go to, your personality, etc.

Last week was introduction week and this week, I had my first lectures. The Saturday before introduction week started, I became very nervous. I started to panic and shed a few tears. This happened for the next few nights, as well as being sick in the mornings (I hate that symptom of my nervousness). As with most things, it wasn't as scary as I thought.
The connotations around fresher's week is that you go out partying all night, every night. I didn't go out once, not only because I was completely knackered, but because it's not my thing. I don't like crowds, dancing or alcohol. It sounds out of the norm to do (or not to do in my case), but quite a few people I've spoken to didn't go out either, for the same reasons as myself.

This week wasn't as scary as I thought it'd be either. Because my University is a small one, there's only 30-40 people in each lecture, so going into a classroom isn't as daunting as you see in the films. The lectures haven't been too hard to understand, but it's only the first week. I'm worried about writing future essays, because I don't believe I am good enough.

In terms of friends, I haven't really made any yet. I've been speaking to people, but I wouldn't call any of them my friends. I do think that living at home makes it harder to make friends. People who are living in halls seem really close with their house mates, which is understandable because they've already spent a lot of time with each other. Hopefully, I'll have some friends soon! I'm not too bothered at the moment, because I'm used to not having them.

Overall, my first two weeks have been fine. Not great, but not terrible either :) and I'm proud of myself for having the courage to actually go. It's the little things such as taking a new journey and bus on my own, sitting on my own whilst waiting for a class and talking to complete strangers, that are helping me become more independent and confident.

I would appreciate no judgemental comments. You may think I'm doing something wrong, and if I am, I'll learn on my own.

September Favourites

2011-09-27T07:08:00.000-07:00

I really should just call these posts 'New products I've tried and liked in *insert month here*' because if I did show you my favourites, you would be reading the same post each month! I rarely change my routine.

I would just like to say that I am sorry for the photo below. My camera is getting worse (or my expectations for quality are getting higher). I wasn't going to write this post, but I really wanted to blog, so I'm putting up with the photo.

Also, I haven't included a swatch of the blush or lipstick because of how rubbish the photos were, but I will be reviewing each of them soon, where I will include some :)

Remington Pearl curling wand- £25.49 from Boots (review coming soon)

This should actually be in my 'Favourite products of 2011' post. It's amazing. I curled my hair with it about a week ago (without hairspray. I never use it) and two days later, the curls were still in. The packaging is also very pretty.

Original Source Vanilla Milk and Raspberry shower gel- £1 when on offer (which is regularly), £2ish when not, from Superdrug, Boots and most supermarkets.

I love Original Source shower gels. I always use their Lime one and it's super duper yummy (very informative, I know). This one is just as delicious and smells of Strawberries & Cream sweets. I picked this up in Asda a couple weeks ago but when I was there last night, I couldn't find it. I really, really hope it hasn't been discontinued.

Accessorize With-Love Merged Blush in Starlet- £5-6 from Accessorize or Superdrug.

I added this to my virtual basket when Accessorize had an online (and in-store) sale. The main reason I bought it was because it was £2.50. I didn't actually think I'd get much use out of it. However, I have! The pigmentation is average, which can be built up, and it gives you a nice glow.

Maybelline The One by One Volum' Express mascara- £8.49 from Boots (review coming soon)

I won this from a Womans Own magazine competition and my first thought was 'Ahh a plastic brush'. I am not (well, wasn't) a fan of plastic brushes because years ago, I tried one that was awful. Plastic brushes have developed since then and this mascara has converted me. The one rule I have with mascara is that it must not clump. At all. I've seen some mascara reviews where girls say 'it doesn't clump' and when I look at the photo, I think their lashes look clumpy. This mascara coats your lashes One by One (shocker!). I love Maybelline's Colossal and Falsies mascaras, and this one joins the list.

17 Mirror Shine lipstick in Belle- £4.89 from Boots (review coming soon)

I'm not a lipstick wearer. In fact, I don't wear any kind of lip product regularly. A bit of lip balm here, some lip stain there, but that's all. So the fact that I've wore this out of the house a few times is amazing. It's a natural, 'my lips but better' shade and feels like a balm on. Sorry I don't have any swatches to show you today, but I will try and write the review as soon as possible.

My favourite shop of the month is... New Look!

This month, I've bought two pairs of jeans, four vests, a pair of heels (and soon to be a pair of boots) from them. All basics, but that's all I wear. I do think some of their jumpers and cardigans are over priced, but their shoes are reasonable (and loved by many), as well as their other basic items.

WHSmith bargains

2011-09-24T09:57:00.000-07:00

I popped into WHSmith with the intention of purchasing a laptop case, memory stick and Filofax. While in there, I came across a beautiful range called 'India' and the prices of some of the products were amazing!

At least I came out with a laptop case, eh?

(I'm not sure how these photos are coming across, in terms of colour. I'm on a new computer so the screen brightness etc is different).

Photo frame £2.49, laptop case £2.99, A4 notebooks £2.49 each (all on sale).

What was weird was the fact that the A7 notebooks were £6.99 on sale and the A4 notebooks were £2.49!

The laptop case is absolutely beautiful. However, the fabric is delicate and I can see it fraying in the future. For £2.99 though, I'm not too bothered!

I also bought some other bits and bobs whilst shopping today, but they're not that exciting!

Tomorrow, I should have my September Favourites post up and next weekend I'll be posting a university post and a Lil Lets review.

ELF order and New Look heels

2011-09-17T12:21:00.000-07:00

Good evening!

ELF and their offers! They're currently having their third 50% off sale in 3 weeks (Use code LAST50 by 8am Monday). I didn't buy from their first sale because I didn't know if I could afford to. By the time their second came along, I had some money in the bank. I bought things I needed, rather than things I wanted and would rarely use.

So here's my boring but sensible order:

Studio Eyebrow Kit in Medium £1.75 (£3.50 full price), Mineral Eyeshadow Primer £1.50 (£3.00 full price), Eyelid Primer 75p (£1.50 full price).

The powder that comes in the Eyebrow Kit is a little lighter than my current one, but it still works well. I'm very impressed with the packaging, both the cardboard box it comes in and the plastic casing that holds the product.

Studio Complexion (x2), Powder, Small Angled and Small Precision brushes all £1.75 (£3.50 full price)

Apart from the Small Precision brush, these are repurchases. I love them! I think I've had 5 Complexion brushes now.

New Look heels:

Platform Court Shoe £19.99

While in New Look the other week, I walked through the Wide Fit shoe section and spotted these. On the shelf they looked 'meh', but I tried them on anyway and liked them straight away. I'd been after a basic pair of suede heels for ages. I'm normally a size 7, but to my surprise, they were too big. I tried on a 6 in another colour and they fitted great. I asked if they had any size 6s in black, but unfortunately they didn't, so I ordered them online. There's still a small gap at the back of my right foot, so I'm going to get some insoles. They look a lot better in real life, compared to the photo.

So the moral of the story is, don't disregard the Wide Fit section! These are classed as Wide Fit, but they're not at all.

September's GlossyBox

2011-09-14T05:10:00.000-07:00

If you are not sure what the concept of GlossyBox is, click here to read my previous review on the brand.

I was sent this box a few days ago, so I could familiarise myself with the products and write a review in time for you.

I've included this photo so people don't see the contents of this months box on their dashboards, which would ruin the surprise.

The HD Brows Eye&Brow Palette in Vamp (£19.95) was the first product I saw and recognised. It's definitely the stand out product of this months box and takes September's GlossyBox from not so good, to great. Inside the compact is a pointless applicator, but it also comes with a bigger brush, which is great. The powders (which can also be used as eyeshadows and eyeliners) are very pigmented and last all day. The shades are slightly too dark compared to my normal brow powder, but with a light hand, I can use both of the bottom shades. I'm not sure how well this palette will work with blondes though, but it can cater for the majority of brunettes and dark haired ladies.

As I said, I'm not blown away by the rest of the products. The Green People Day Solution 10ml (£3.60 for a 10ml sample tube) is light and absorbs into the skin well. It has a strong scent though, which is a little off putting. To me, it smells of Turkish delight. I like the scent of Turkish delight, but not this strong!

The Móa The Green Balm (£9.99 for 50ml, £4.99 for 20ml) sample is very small, but I do like the product. Móa says: 'Móa is a natural skin care balm with miraculous healing powers to soothe, nourish and renew dry, itchy skin conditions, bumps, bites, grazes and minor burns. Moa even works wonders after shaving and as a facial cleansing balm.' Don't you love multi-purpose products? Because it's a balm, the small sample should last a while if you are only going to put it on the likes and bites and small burns. It also has a minty scent, which I like.

Plum by Mary Greenwell 1.5ml (£90 for 100ml) is fruity, but not overly sweet. The top notes include peach, blackcurrent, plum, bergamot and lemon- yum! The scent is very strong though.

The Rahua Shampoo 20ml and Conditioner 16ml (£26 and £27.50 for 275ml) are OK. They do their job, but so does the 30p Tesco shampoo my mum uses. I am not a fan of the scent at all. Personally, I think it smells of musky garden.

As you can see from the above, scents play a huge factor in whether I like a product or not!

Overall, I like this months box. But that's only because of the HD Brow Palette. I've seen that other boxes included a full sized hair treatment as well. If I was a customer, I would be a little miffed if I received a sample and others received a full sized product. I know they can't please everyone, but it would be nice if everyone received the same amount of full sized and sample products.

Will I be subscribing? I would like to. I'll have to work out my finances and see if I can afford to spend £12.95 a month. However, if other boxes are like this one (where I receive a sample and others receive full sized products) I'll be unsubscribing straight away, because I don't think it's fair.

Ped Egg Giveaway Winners

2011-09-11T07:59:00.000-07:00

Hello!
The 1st winner of my Ped Egg giveaway is Sophie! You have won the Ped Egg of your choice, which is the silver one.
The second winner, who has won the remaining gold Ped Egg, is Ellie.
Congratulations to the both of you, I am just about to send you an email :)
Please reply by 12pm Wednesday 14th September. If you don't, I'll pick other winners.
Thank you to everyone who entered!
x

Shop!

2011-09-10T12:33:00.000-07:00

Good evening! I have some goodies to show you :) I'm building up my little wardrobe, so I should have a few shops coming up in the next couple of months. I still have to get dresses, tops, cardigans, hoodies, heels and more!

Sorry that the photos aren't of great quality. My camera is rubbish for taking distant photos, especially of clothes. Also, I couldn't find anywhere to photograph, so used my bed which is currently sporting my childhood bedding!

ASDA:

Parka coat £25.

The photo isn't doing it justice, which is a shame. I needed a light jacket/coat because I don't want to be carrying around my heavy Winter coat all the time!

Original Source shower gels £1 each.

Original Source shower gels are my favourite. I only buy them when they're on offer though (which is a lot of the time). I've been waiting for somewhere to put them on offer for ages, so when I saw them in ASDA, I picked up 4!

Primark:

Navy knitted cardigan/throw over with pockets £12.

This photo is terrible *sigh*. I was a little apprehensive about buying it because I tend to buy things for practical reasons, and as you can see, the sleeves aren't long enough to cover my arms and keep me warm. I decided to get it though because I will wear it a lot. It's bat winged, which is very flattering.

Pajama bottoms £5 each.

I love love love Primark pajamas! They offer a range of designs and the quality is good. I'm going to pick up a few more of these in different colours and patterns.

Hair ties £1 each.

I stocked up on my usual hair ties!

New Look:

Skinny jeans £19.99 each.

Again, the photo does not do them justice. I love New Look jeans. I don't like my jeans to be one colour all over, but a little faded in the middle (like above).

I walked past the Wide Fit shoes section and saw some suede court heels. On the shelf, they looked 'meh', but on, they looked gorgeous. I tried on a 7 and to my surprise, they were too big. The 6s fit perfectly. With heels, it's better for them to be tight than loose, because if they're loose, you can't walk in them! Anyway, I didn't know whether to get the black or teal pair, but decided that the black would go with more and if I liked them, I could then get the teal pair. They didn't have any black size 6s left though, so I'm going to order them online. Don't be put off by the words 'Wide Fit'. These were not wide fit at all!

Ped Egg giveaway! CLOSED

2011-09-02T14:01:00.000-07:00

Hello my lovelies! I have a treat for you today!

The other week, I reviewed the Ped Egg. You can see the post here.

The lovely people at JML Direct have offered to give not one, but two Ped Eggs to my readers. You won't be receiving a white one like the one above though. One winner will receive a gold Ped Egg and another will receive a silver Ped Egg. Unfortunately, I haven't got a photo to show you, so you'll have to use your imagination!

If you would like to purchase your own Ped Egg, click here. JML Direct do a range of colours.

The company are also on Facebook, so get liking!

So, would you like to win a Ped Egg? Carry on reading.

The rules:

You must be a follower/member of Affordable Treats.
UK only.
If you are under 16, please make sure your parents are OK with you receiving the prize.

How to enter:

Simply leave me a nice comment!
Include whether you would like to win the gold or silver Ped Egg. The first winner (who will be chosen with random.org) will receive the Ped Egg of their choice. The second winner will receive the remaining colour.
Also include your email address so I can contact you if you win!

The giveaway will be open for a week. You have until midday on Friday 9th September to enter.

Good luck!

Someday Summary - Thursday

2011-09-01T11:24:00.000-07:00

Good evening!

I realised last night that I have yet to talk about my Lee Evans live experience, so here we are!

I'd never seen anyone live before so was quite excited. However, I thought he would tell the same old jokes, which I wasn't looking forward to. Fortunately, he had new material! He told his jokes (in which he took the piss out of the Plymouth 'farmer' accent haha), sang a new song he wrote (which I thoroughly enjoyed) and then done his Galileo routine. Afterwards, he shook hands and had photos taken with the front row, which was annoying because we were four rows from the front. So close but so far!
I haven't wrote a Someday Summary since before exam results day, so if you didn't know, I'm going to University! My results weren't the best, but they got me in :) I'm not good with people and I think I'll be too dumb for the course, so I'm off to a great start! haha
I'm living at home, so am going to have a good chunk of money spare. In the next month, I'm going clothes shopping! I know it sounds like what a typical girl would do, but I really do need a new wardrobe. I was going to get another puppy as well (My third Border Collie) but I've decided against it. I think it's best to have a few hundred spare in the bank. Saying that, if I see an advert for a puppy, I'll probably be on the phone in seconds, asking if it is still available!

These are my new mugs, which I love. They're from Tesco and were 2 for £4.

Hope you're having a great week!

Nails Of The Week!

2011-08-27T09:53:00.000-07:00

Flash and direct natural light

Flash

(I can't decide whether the polish is closer in shade to the 1st or 2nd photo. It's in-between!)

This is Maybelline's Forever Strong nail polish in Hot Salsa, which is just beautiful. Well, other people and the Maybelline stands call it Hot Salsa, but at the top it says 'Rose Salsa 490 Hot Salsa'. First of all, I thought it was a standard coral, but compared to my other corals, this is a lot more pink. I think it's just a very warm hot pink.

I won this, along with some other Maybelline goodies, from Woman's Own magazine. They were giving away 50 goody bags worth £50 each and I was a winner:

Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint

2011-08-26T09:26:00.000-07:00

First of all, I don't wear tinted moisturiser or foundation. Not because I have great skin (far from it) but because I'm used to not wearing it. Last week, for the first time, I went out of the house wearing a tinted moisturiser (that has the coverage of a light foundation) and that product is what I'll be talking about today.

In this post, you're going to see something horrific; part of my naked face! You're going to see my redness, blackhead infested nose (yummy) and part of my hideous eye. You've been warned!

Bare skin, Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint in Bare. (My eye was irritated. It's not normally that red!)

Price: £21 for 40ml

Shades: Bare (for fair/light skin tones), Beige (for medium skin tones) and Beach (for medium to dark skin tones).

The shade you see above is Bare.

'The perfect way to enhance your skin. Our rich, creamy formula leaves skin looking naturally dewy, even and radiant. With mineral UV protection SPF15, plus our own specially selected blend of botanicals.'

The packaging is simple yet feminine, like the skincare line. If you look closely, you can see shimmer particles in the dark navy casing, which makes it look that little more expensive.

I'm not keen on the scent. Personally, I think it smells like mushrooms. However, you can not detect this once it's applied.

The formula is closer to a light foundation than a tinted moisturiser. I don't think it's moisturising enough to be a tinted moisturiser, so I apply moisturiser before I use this. The coverage is also like a light foundation. (Just to clarify, I'm not saying it is a foundation, but the formula is similar to a foundation)

I have an oily T-Zone and normal cheeks. On my cheeks, this product looks great and gives them that promised dewy, radiant glow. On my T-Zone however, it enhances the oily skin. I would say that you can always dust some powder over the top, but if you wanted a matte finish, why would you buy this product?

If you have dry/normal skin, I think this product will look great on you.

Personally, I think the price is a little expensive, but I know a lot of people are willing to pay more for face products.

I wouldn't buy it because like I said, I rarely wear tinted moisturiser or foundation. If you do wear those sort of products and want something light and dewy, I would recommend this.

PR Sample

Shop! (Superdrug, Aussie, The Body Shop and Tesco stationery)

2011-08-22T15:24:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd show you what I've bought within the last week. The stationery isn't pretty or exciting, but may be useful to someone!

Superdrug:

Superdrug Kids pear detangling spray 99p, Aussie Miracle Hair Insurance Leave-in Conditioner, Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor Deep Conditioner 2 for £4.99

The Body Shop:

Hair brush £4 (Originally £8), Satsuma body butter 50ml £2.50 (Originally £5)

There have been a few codes going around which entitle you to 50% off The Body Shop website. They also had free delivery so I couldn't pass it up! I already own a couple The Body Shop brushes and really like them.

Tesco:

Zebra print folder £1, blue folder 60p

I want some pretty ones, but these will do for now!

400 sheet Pukka pads £1.90 each

I was going to buy some Oxford pads, but you get a lot more paper with these and the quality is very similar.

50 subject dividers £2, 50 punch pockets £1

Clear pencil cases 39p each, highlighters 85p, sticky index markers £1

I do find it a little ridiculous that the index markers are more than the highlighters, seeing as they're just paper!

I still need to get pens and a memory stick. I use Papermate biros, which come in packs of 10. I usually get them from Asda (£1 a pack) but they've stopped selling them! I know that Rymans sell them though.

Asda are selling 4GB memory sticks for £5, which is quite good, but I have my eye on a turtle shaped one from Comet haha. It's £12-15 though so I'll probably just get a cheap one.

A photo

2011-08-22T14:41:00.000-07:00

In my previous post, I showed you some photos from my childhood. After I posted it, my nan gave us some photos that we've never seen before. Out of all of them, this one is my favourite:

My sister, mum and me.

A trip down memory lane

2011-08-21T03:07:00.000-07:00

I was looking through some photos last night and thought it would be nice to share a few with you. What I love about childhood is that you don't care what you look like and what people think of you. I also envy the perfect skin!

Literally white

Granddad and I. He looks very similar now, apart from his grey hair!

Mum and I

Summer dress with biker boots! I've also got a photo from the Winter, where I'm wearing my school jumper, skirt, tights and the boots again.

Sister (looking like a boy) and I

Results

2011-08-19T04:50:00.000-07:00

My first choice University was Plymouth and my second was Marjon (which is also in Plymouth). Over the months, I convinced myself I'd never get into Plymouth, so I became more attached to Marjon. I also liked that Marjon only has 3,000 students, where as Plymouth has 10x that.
Yesterday morning I logged into Track. Track said they would open at 8am, but at 7am, it was working. It said that I had got into Plymouth and I was in shock. I went and got my results and was surprised because I didn't meet Plymouth's grade requirements, but they still offered me a place. I didn't want to go to Plymouth anymore though. I got home and asked Marjon if I could still have my place, in which they replied "We'd be delighted to give you a place". I then filled out an online form and emailed Plymouth asking to be released. I went on Track this morning, seen that I had been released from Plymouth and added Marjon in clearing. 5 minutes later they accepted me!
I really hope that I don't regret withdrawing from Plymouth. I didn't get the grades to go there anyway so would feel like I didn't deserve a place. 3,000 students is still a lot to me, so I think Marjon is going to challenge me greatly.
My grades weren't the best and I did get a little upset about them. So many people had got As and Bs, so I felt a little dumb compared to them. At the end of the day though, I had 5 conditionals and was accepted into 2 Universities, so it could be a lot worse.
I am absolutely terrified of going though. New people, all the work and on top of that, I don't have many clothes haha
x

Lets talk feet

2011-08-17T03:02:00.000-07:00

Not the most popular topic, but it relates to everyone who has feet, which is the majority of the population!

There are a few steps I take that transform my feet from dry and crusty (mm sexy) to soft and subtle.

The first step is filing my feet. I was recently sent the Ped Egg which has replaced my usual files. I have a product similar to the Ped Egg from Avon, so was expecting similar results. My expectations were wrong. I was filing away and when I looked at how much skin I filed away (ew), I was amazed and shocked at the same time. There was a lot of skin shavings! I think the blades must be sharper. Be careful though. I must have filed too hard because I filed right past the dry skin and scraped the new skin - ouch! My feet are slightly sore now. It's nothing some Germolene won't cure though.

The Ped Egg I received is from JML Direct and is £9.99. They also do a range of pastel shades (very pretty) which are currently only £4.99.

The second step I do is soak my feet. Hot water and moisturising bubble bath or shower gel does the trick. Sit back and relax for 10-15 minutes :)

The next step is to moisturise... and then wrap your feet in cling film. The cling film keeps the moisturiser in, allowing it to absorb into the skin. I normally use Aveeno moisturiser, but that's because I have so many tubes of it! Any moisturiser will do. I leave this on over night and in the morning my feet are super soft!

The last step is to paint your toe nails and then bam! You have gorgeous feet.

Hope you enjoyed this post!

Nails Of The Week - OPI Elephantastic Pink and Comparisons

2011-08-08T04:51:00.000-07:00

I love shades like this; warm pinks. This polish has a jelly formula, so is quite sheer. Above, I have on 4 coats!

There are quite a few dupes for this, which are not sheer:

Barry M Pink Flamingo, OPI Elephantastic Pink, 17 Pink Grapefruit and ASOS Paint in Blake.

Barry M Pink Flamingo is the closet in shade to Elephantastic Pink. It's opaque in 1-2 coats and is only £2.99, so I would definitely recommend it over the OPI polish. The 17 and ASOS shades are slightly darker, but still in the same colour family.

My Top 5 Affordable Treats

2011-08-08T04:21:00.000-07:00

Hello! I'm guest blogging over at Computergirl's musings today. As you can see from this title, the post is about my Top 5 Affordable Treats. Click here to have a read.
Thank you again Emma for allowing me to feature on your blog!
x

Someday Summary - Sunday

2011-08-07T15:39:00.000-07:00

This post has more photos than usual as I don't really have much say (for once!).

I read The Lovely Bones this week and can see why it's popular. It's a great read and had me in tears a few times! Not only do you feel for Susie, but for her friends and family too. More so in fact.

I popped into town yesterday and picked up another pair of Primark pumps (£3). I also went into Acccessorize and bought the parakeet pendant that I've wanted for a while. It was down to £2.70 and was the last one! Result. My sister thought it opened up like a locket so was trying to open it and then broke off the branch the parrot was sat on! It doesn't look too bad, but I've emailed Accessorize asking if they have a spare that I could buy.

hehe Shadow. Look at her cheek drooping! Oh and, please excuse the hideous carpet!

There was a code going around for Jessops, which supposedly entitled you to a free canvas. This code was in fact only meant to be used if the customers were buying a camera, but Jessops made a booboo. Jessops then cancelled all orders containing a canvas. A couple of my orders didn't get cancelled because I didn't order a canvas. I found out that the code worked on anything on the website. Above is Mr. Moose with Shadow on his t-shirt. I also have another order coming, which includes a teddy, snow globe, photo clip and glass photo, all for free!

My shelves aren't 100% finished yet (would like to paint them another colour) but here they are with my nail polishes on :)

Good Things Dream Cream Night Cream

2011-08-06T15:02:00.000-07:00

Price: £8.99

Isn't the packaging beautiful? It's simple yet feminine. Although the Good Things range is primarily aimed at young skin, the packaging isn't tacky or childish, so also appeals to older women (well, my mum likes it anyway!). The pot/tub is rounded at the bottom, which adds to the feminine touch.

The scent is not your standard sickly-sweet, citrusy scent (although I must admit, I do like a bit of that!), which is a Good Thing for this product (I couldn't help it!). I don't associate citrusy scents with moisturising night creams, so the subtle, understated fruity scent of fig and avocado suits the product well.

It does what a night cream should, and leaves my skin very moisturised and soft, without feeling greasy. Saying that, I've never come across a moisturiser that doesn't moisturise.

PR sample.

Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator

2011-08-06T14:32:00.000-07:00

(freckles!) If you look closely, you can see the jojoba beads.

Price: £12.50 for 70ml

'Problem: blocked pores, blackheads and congested or flaky skin.

Solution: gently exfoliate to buff away dead skin cells and impurities for smoother, clearer skin. Containing purifying eucalyptus, softening cocoa butter and fine jojoba beads.'

This product has the same scent as the other products in the range, which I would describe as a herbal, minty scent. As the name suggests, it is a gentle exfoliator, so can be used everyday. If you're the kind of person who loves a 'scrubby' exfoliator, you may not like this product. Personally, I don't mind how 'scrubby' an exfoliator is! Most facial exfoliators I've tried in the past are gel based, whereas this is very creamy. Because of this, it leaves your skin very soft, just like the Cleanse & Polish. If this product was gel based, I would say that it can easily be duped, but because the formula is unique for an exfoliator, I would recommend it. This is like the Cleanse & Polish, but removes more dead skin cells, so what's not to like? "The price" I hear some of you say. I agree, it is a little expensive (for me anyway), which is the only negative point.

Winners of my Witch concealer giveaway

2011-07-26T05:31:00.000-07:00

Thank you all for entering the giveaway! The winners are:
1. Sophie!
2. Cat
3. Kirsti x
4. Summer Loren
5. Kate (new winner)
6. Lisa
7. KatBeautyAddict
8. Shlynbin
9. CHARfmb
10. Radiant Make Up

Congratulations! I've emailed all of you. Please reply by Friday or I'll have to choose another winner.

Someday Summary - Tuesday

2011-07-26T04:30:00.000-07:00

Hello! I finally have enough to talk/write about for a Someday Summary post! My life has been awfully boring these past few weeks.

Since my last Someday Summary, there have been a few changes on this little blog. I have a new header, a blog button and on my 'About me' page, there are some photos of me (finally!)
I want to say 'finally' again in this point but I've already used it twice... *thesaurus time*. Stuff it. I finally have my provisional license! It's been a year and a half, but better late than never, right? Admittedly, I primarily got it so I have some form of ID to buy alcohol. All I need now is money and friends, and I'm good to go ;)
My health... is not good. Well, atm it is, but if I carry on the way I am, it won't be. I don't eat breakfast, don't eat healthily, don't drink water (less than a cup a day) and I don't exercise. I've been telling myself I'll drink water and/or exercise everyday for the past week. This week, I WILL. I promise.
Now for a topic that always comes up - My future. If I get into Uni, I'll go, but I'm not excited about it. The fear of meeting new people and how hard the work will be is all I can think about. I'll do it for the first year and then see if it's for me. If I don't get into Uni, I'll either go college or get a job. At the moment, a job sounds more pleasing than Uni, because I find people my own age more intimidating. Whatever option I choose, I'm going to have to meet new people and while I find it terrifying now, I know it will benefit me in the future.

Here are my new shelves! They're not finished yet and only have one coat of paint, but you get the idea. My main wall is bright turquoise, so I want to paint these shelves bright orange, purple and lime green to contrast and add some colour to my white walls. These are going to hold my nail polishes and my make-up/beauty station will sit underneath.

Awww, how cute is Shadow? She's very old so I'm trying to treasure our moments together. In this photo, you can also see Jessie's tail, Mia's tail and Jacks in the bush.

Liz Earle Botanical Essence No.1

2011-07-20T16:38:00.000-07:00

Price: £40.35 for 50ml

I'm not at all cultured in the perfume department. I've never had a 'proper' one - I've only ever had bottles under £10 that are very sweet/fruity. This product is completely different to anything I've had. Not only is the scent different, but the ingredients too, with them being natural.

I like the packaging a lot. It's simple, elegant and represents the perfume perfectly.

The scent is strong and the first thing I smell is lavender, which I absolutely hate. Lavender makes me feel sick. On the skin, this scent dies down and begins to smell more citrusy (from the beragmot and mandarin), but not enough for me to say I enjoy it.

When my sister smelt it, she said "that smells of old people" and when my mum had a sniffle, she said "eeww lavender". We are all used to sweet/fruity fragrances and have never had anything like this, so it's hard to get used to. Also, we all hate the smell of lavender and unfortunately, we cannot get past that.

I love that the perfume is packed full of natural ingredients and hope that my nose will start to appreciate the scent.

This would make a great gift for those ladies who do prefer more complex scents, as it combines floral, herbal and citrus notes.

Giveaway! CLOSED

2011-07-19T07:09:00.000-07:00

Hello my lovelies!

Who wants to win a Witch Anti-blemish Liquid Concealer? I have 10 up for grabs! Yes, 10!

'Witch Anti-blemish Liquid Concealer is specially formulated for oily/combination skin. Enriched with antibacterial actives, it helps target spots and blemishes while smoothly covering them helping you to achieve a clear looking complexion instantly. Providing medium coverage and a natural matte finish, the lightweight formulation is also suitable for use under eyes, and great for reducing redness around the nose.

Available in two shades, light and medium, to suit most skin tones.'

The rules:

You must be a follower/member of Affordable Treats.

UK only.

If you are under 16, please make sure your parents are OK with you receiving the prize.

How to enter:

Simply leave me a nice comment!

Include your email address in the comment so I can contact you if you win!

Extra entries:

For an extra entry, follow me on Twitter and tweet the following: ' Want to win a Witch Anti-blemish Liquid Concealer? @Louu8D is giving away 10 here: http://affordabletreats.blogspot.com/2011/07/giveaway.html ' If you do this, be sure to include your Twitter name in your comment below.

This giveaway will be open for a week. You have until 12pm Tuesday 26th July to enter.
I will select 10 winners using random.org.

Good luck!

Sleek True Colour Lipsticks

2011-07-18T17:02:00.000-07:00

Stiletto, Papaya Punch, Coral Reef, Peaches & Cream, Barely There, Liqueur, Baby Doll, Fuchsia, Amped, Mystic.

Stiletto (Matte)

Papaya Punch (Matte)

Coral Reef (Sheen)

Peaches & Cream (Sheen)

Barely There (Sheen)

Liqueur (Sheen)

Baby Doll (Sheen)

Fuchsia (Sheen) (Slightly more pink IRL)

Amped (Matte)

Mystic (Matte)

Price: £4

My cheeks hurt from all the smiling, my lips hurt from wiping off all the lipstick and my brain hurts from going through 200+ photos, but I'm finally showing you the Sleek True Colour lipsticks!

These lipsticks are incredibly pigmented and last well, especially the matte shades. I prefer the sheen formula, just because it's easier to apply, but if you want your lipstick to last longer, the matte shades will be great for you.

Most of the lipsticks in this range are bright, which doesn't appeal to me because I don't wear such daring colours. I prefer natural pink (aka boring) shades.

My favourite would have to be Liqueur, because it is the most natural, everyday shade. I also love the colour of Coral Reef, but don't have the confidence to wear it! The shade I hate the most would have to be Baby Doll. It makes me look dead! Trust me, the photo is making it look a lot better than it actually is.

I won these in a competition.

Sleek blushes

2011-07-16T15:41:00.000-07:00

Clockwise from top left: Pixie Pink, Flamingo, Rose Gold, Santorini

Same order as above

Price: £4.30

In the pan, the formula of these isn't the best. For example, Pixie Pink and Flamingo are chalky and Rose Gold and Santorini are hard and grainy. However, these qualities do not transfer onto the skin. As you can see, the swatches above are not at all chalky or grainy. All of these blushes are pigmented and blend well. They are also affordable, which is always great!

Nails Of The Week - OPI Lucky Lucky Lavender

2011-07-14T06:54:00.000-07:00

This is the first Nails Of The Week post I've done in nearly two months! I stopped painting my nails during exam period and have only just started wearing polish again.

This is OPI Lucky Lucky Lavender. It's a combination of pink & lilac and I absolutely adore it. I wouldn't say it's lavender, like the name suggests, because I imagine lavender to be more purple.

This polish reminded me of Barry M Boots Limited Edition; one of my all time favourite shades. Here is a comparison:

Barry M Boots Limited Edition is on my ring finger and the rest are painted with OPI Lucky Lucky Lavender. As you can see, the Barry M shade is darker and more purple toned (Although, IRL, the difference isn't as drastic as the photo suggests). Not a dupe, but they're certainly in the same colour family.

Liz Earle Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion

2011-07-11T14:04:00.000-07:00

Price: £9.70 for 150ml

'A gentle herbal lotion to soothe and refresh tired, puffy eyes and remove light eye make-up. Naturally active ingredients include; the herb eyebright, witch hazel, aloe vera and cornflower to cool, soothe and revitalise tired eyes.'

I have to agree with the claims of this product. The formula feels colder than room temperature, like water from a cold tap, which instantly refreshes my skin. You get 150ml, which is a lot for an eye product, so you can also use this over your entire face because there is plenty of it. If you just want to use this on your eyes, you can purchase the 50ml bottle, which costs £4.85.

A few days ago, I deliberately made sure some of the product went into my eyes (the things I do for this blog...) (don't do this at home kids) to see if it irritated them in the slightest. I'm happy to say, I could feel no burning or irritation at all.

As well as cucumber and cold tea bags, this is also good for pampering sessions. Just cover some cotton wool pads in the product, lay back and relaaxx.

Although this is refreshing, I won't be using it everyday because I don't see it as a staple in my skincare routine. I haven't noticed a difference in the appearance of my eyes. It's one of those products that is nice to have, but isn't a necessity.

Jergens Naturals Daily Moisturising Body Moisturiser with Acai Berry - Perfect for the Summer months

2011-07-06T11:33:00.000-07:00

Price: £5.10 but currently half price (£2.55) at Boots.

I normally prefer body butters over lotions because they tend to be more moisturising and richer in scent. However, I like this just as much as the body butters I own. It is light and the scent is subtle, making is perfect for the Summer months.

The product absorbs into my skin fast, which is just what you need during the Summer because you do not want to feel sticky in hot weather. The scent is subtle and refreshing, which is different to the scents I usually go for; strong and sweet. However, I thoroughly enjoy it. The light scent of berries lasts all day too :)

Like with all moisturisers I've come across, this one moisturises my normal skin well. I'm not sure how well it will perform if you have dry skin though, but they have other products in the range to cater for that.

Shop and Schwarzkopf got2b prizes

2011-07-04T05:59:00.000-07:00

Accessorize:

Underwear - £3.50

Hot air balloon necklace - £6

Blush in Starlet - £2.50

Stickers - 87p each

Accessorize currently have a 50% off sale, both online and in store. I ordered the above online and would have bought so much more, but a lot was out of stock. I really like the underwear! I can see some people hating them, but ah well! I've been thinking about buying the blush for a while so when I saw that it was half price, I popped it in my basket. I think it's on sale because they have new blushes and bronzers coming out, including duos. I love Accessorize stickers! I have a few other packs in adorable designs. I've had one on my phone for a year & a half and it's still going strong!

I went in store today and my store had tons of half price goodies, but nothing caught my eye.

Boots:

Remington Pearl curling wand - £25.99

I wanted some new curling tongs and was asking people on Twitter about the Babyliss conical wands. Many liked them but in the end I decided to go with the Remington Pearl ones. I like the brand and have heard great things about the Pearl range (I really want the straighteners!). These also come with a heat protective glove. I'm going to use them on my sister's hair for her prom on Thursday, so will show you the results!

Thorntons:

Lenny Lamb chocolate - £3.50 each

Chocolate truffle bar - 75p

I won a competition Glamour held on Twitter and the prize was a load of Schwarzkopf got2b products. Because they were late sending the prizes out, I was allowed to choose a LIVE hair dye. I chose Cyber Purple because my mum dyes her hair that colour. They're also sending me a Powder'ful, which didn't arrive with the rest of the products because of short supply. If you would like a review of anything, let me know!

Oh and, sorry the photos are shoddy! I don't know what is up with my camera these days!

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic and Skin Repair Light Moisturiser for Combination/Oily skin

2011-06-30T16:21:00.000-07:00

Hello lovelies!

I was kindly sent the next two steps of Liz Earle's Daily Essentials. You can read my review of the Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser here.

Instant Boost Skin Tonic - £11.75 for 200ml

'This heavenly floral-scented, non-drying toner refreshes, soothes and brightens your skin. Gentle and alcohol-free, it also adds a fine layer of moisture.'

This is so, so refreshing. It also comes in a 'spritzer' (a spray) bottle, which would work wonders in the Summer to freshen up. Some toners sting when you apply them but I haven't experienced that with this. This refreshes my skin, which is nice, but I haven't noticed it having any other benefits. I find it difficult to see physical changes with toners.

Skin Repair Light Moisturiser for Combination/Oily skin - Pump and tube packaging - £17.60 each

'Light and gentle, this easily absorbed moisturising lotion is ideal for combination, oily or problem skin.'

This feels light on the skin (it is called light moisturiser, after all). What I mean by that, is that it doesn't clog my pores and sit on my skin. It absorbs into my skin well, which is important for people with oily skin because you do not need any extra residue sitting on the surface.

Both of these products, along with the cleanser, are good to use all year round, but especially in the Summer because the regime is so light and refreshing.

Someday Summary - Tuesday

2011-06-28T09:18:00.000-07:00

Since I finished my exams Friday, I haven't done a great deal!

I'm making sure I do something each day so I don't get bored. So far, I've tidied my room, washed my make up brushes, walked the dogs multiple times and bathed them.
I had a load of Sleek brushes, which I won last year, and yesterday I shoved them under my bed. The quality of them is not up to scratch. I can't believe Sleek want 80 odd pounds for the set! I'm now left with my trusty ELF Studio brushes :)
I'm becoming more confident with how I look. I still don't think I'm pretty (don't think I ever will!) but I'm not repulsed when I look in the mirror. I think it's because I haven't been at school for a few weeks so I haven't been comparing myself to other people.

I went to the shops today and bought some childhood favourites! They're no longer 1p though - they're 2p!

These are delicious! 10 for £1.99 at Lidl!

I live in Plymouth, Devon, right next to the Tamar River, which is in-between Devon and Cornwall. I took the dogs for a walk today and brought my camera along. The photos aren't very good because it was so sunny and the dogs would not stay still!

Looking over to Saltash, Cornwall.

Tug of war!

Jessie :)

June Favourites!

2011-06-27T09:18:00.000-07:00

I haven't done one of these posts in a while! I rarely change my routine so don't see the need in showing you the same products every month. I don't think the products below have been featured in a monthly favourites though, so it's all good!

Sleek Rose Gold Blush and Bloom Shadow Liner in Soft Taupe

ELF Eyelash Curlers - £1.50

Recently, my eyelashes have lost their curl so these have been part of my morning routine. If you're looking for a pair of eyelash curlers, I'd definitely recommend these.

Carex Grapefruit & Lime Hand Gel - £1 something

This smells so refreshing and makes a necessity that little bit more interesting.

Sleek Rose Gold Blush - £4.30

I didn't expect to like this as much as I do. In the pan and swatched, it's nice, but doesn't blow me away. On the cheeks however, it gives a beautiful glow. It also lasts all day.

Boots Extracts Mango and Brazil Nut Body Butters (post here) - £2.55 for 50ml

These smell ah-maz-ing! The mango one smells like, well, mango! and the brazil nut one smells sweet, like fudge. They are also very moisturising. I would definitely recommend these over The Body Shop ones.

Bloom Shadow Liner in Soft Taupe - $25

I've been wearing this literally everyday for months! I don't like wearing black eyeliner anymore because it can look too harsh. This colour is perfect at defining your eyes and looking natural at the same time. However, this brand is hard to get hold of in the UK and is fairly expensive.

Bourjois Volume Fast & Perfect Mascara - £11.99

The rotating wand works surprisingly well! However, it works just as well without the wand rotating. This gives your lashes volume and length. A review of this will be up soon :)