Illamasqua Sale Purchases

I'm so happy I managed to get my hands on these beauties! Not only are they packaged beautifully and products I'll get a lot of use out of, but they were a complete bargain.

The Illamasqua Embellished Eye Trio caught my eye before Christmas, with its Precision Brow Gel in Strike, Vintage Metallix Cream Eyeshadow in Embellish, and Precision Gel Liner in Infinity. At £49, though, I couldn't justify buying it. Then it went down to £24.50, but for some reason I still didn't order. Then it went down to £14.70 last week, which was insane. The Precision Brow Gel, Strike, is the only shade available at the moment, and could possibly be too dark for me. However, with a light hand, I think I can make it work.

I decided to add the Intense Lipgloss in Mistress to my basket last minute for £6.60 (down from £16.50). It's described as a bright, coral orange, which is one of my favourite shades. I've also been loving pigmented, liquid lip products recently, so I can see this being used a great deal.

I love all the Illamasqua products I own, especially because most were bought at great prices in their sale.

What's your favourite Illamasqua product?

New Blog Name!

Hello! Welcome to Freckled Elle, formerly known as Affordable Treats. I changed the name a couple days ago, after having Affordable Treats for 5 1/2 years. It'd become like my second name, but it had its limitations. I'm now earning more money, and while most of my purchases are still affordable, I want to be able to blog about more expensive things if I buy them, without feeling like I'm going against my word. The name also focused on products, and I want to be able to blog about other hobbies and lifestyle topics from time to time. It was sometimes confused with dog treats, too! 

Thinking of a new name was incredibly difficult. I actually decided on three before this, but they were all taken. Freckled Elle is super simple; I have freckles and my name begins with 'l/elle'. That's all there is to it!

Unfortunately, with this name change, my previous posts aren't showing up on Bloglovin, and I've lost most of my traffic. My images on Google all link to my old URL, which has now been removed, and I don't know how to redirect them, if I can at all (the custom redirects in settings doesn't work).

I'm going to try and make my blogging a little more organised and have set times and days for planned posts. I'm thinking Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Hopefully I can think of enough ideas to keep this going! If not, it'll be twice a week instead!

New In

This next haul post is coming to you from Boots (and one item from Topshop). Working there has definitely encouraged my beauty spending habits!

I prefer cream highlighters to powder ones, and had heard a lot about the Topshop Glow Highlighter in Polish (£9). I'm impressed so far, and will probably be reviewing it soon. I also had my eye on one of their powder blushes, but I have enough already. I'm also not a fan of the packaging because it gets so grubby.

The Max Factor products are actually my first purchases from the brand. I'm running out of my Witch primer and wanted to try something new, so thought I'd give the Face Finity All Day Primer (£10.99) a go. I was sent the Skin Luminizer Foundation (£11.99) a few months ago, but it was in the wrong shade and I wasn't really into wearing foundation back then. I've heard good things since, and was in the spending mood yesterday, so popped it in my basket. I'm hoping it's light enough for me! Max Factor is currently on 3 for 2, so I also picked up the Colour Elixir Lip Gloss in Enchanting Coral (£7.99). I'd had my eye on this for a while - it's a beautiful, pinky coral shade with no shimmer (for once!), and has a good colour pay off.

Wearing foundation has opened up a whole new area of makeup for me to try, which is exciting. After doing lots of research on many brands and foundations, I decided to try the L'Oreal True Match Foundation (£9.99). I was going to go for the Revlon Colourstay one, but it looked too dark for me, so maybe I'll try that in the summer. Now, I thought it'd be best to go for the shade N1 Ivory, but my store only had C1 Rose Ivory. I thought it'd be too cool toned for my skin, but then I compared it to other foundations in the store, including my current No7 one, and it didn't look any different, in terms of tone. I'll let you know how I get on with it! L'Oreal is currently 2 for £14, and as tempting as that was, there wasn't anything else I wanted.

I love Maybelline mascaras, and the new Lash Sensational (introductory price £5.99, normal price £7.99) looked like a combination of the Rocket and Falsies, so I had to try it. I then bought another Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in Intense Black (currently £5.99, normally £7.99) because my current one is starting to dry up. I love this eyeliner, and I actually use the brush that comes with it!

When I showed my family what I bought (does anyone else do that?), my dad said I didn't need any more makeup. Sometimes, I feel like he doesn't know me at all...

Another Yankee Candle Haul

I know I've only just posted one of these, but my sister and I went to a store that had its own Yankee Candle section the other day, so took advantage of being able to see and smell all the scents.

I intended on stocking up on Red Raspberry because I'd melted it the night before and fell in love. Sadly, it was the one scent they didn't have any wax tarts in, so I settled for a sampler candle (£1.80). I then bought another Mango Peach Salsa, as well as Black Cherry, Pink Grapefruit, and Turquoise Sky for £1.49 each. Turquoise Sky is described as 'calm, salty air with hints of sea grass and musk, float gently on ocean waves... off on an adventure beneath a bright blue sky', but I'd just describe it as fresh and slightly more masculine than the others I have.

Champaca Blossom is one of the fragrances of the month (25% off), so I paid £1.12 for the wax tart. It's described as a 'fruity floral nectar', and I'd agree with that. Not one I'd have chosen if I was shopping online, so I'm glad I was able to smell it.

Summer Scoop and Sicilian Lemon were £1.04 for some reason, and ones I'd had my eye on before. Summer Scoop smells like strawberry ice cream, and you can guess what Sicilian Lemon smells like!

Finally, Christmas Cookie and Snowflake Cookie were 74p each. There were other Christmas and Halloween scents on sale, too, but I didn't like them as much.

I don't need to buy any more for a while now, but I'm tempted to buy 10 Red Raspberry melts from yankee.co.uk for £9.60! I may need another Pineapple Cilantro as well because the scent's currently wafting through the house and smelling beautiful.

2014 Favourites: Part Two

Part two of my 2014 favourites includes skincare, haircare, and bodycare products (you can see my makeup favourites here). I'm probably missing something, but the ones above are the ones currently in my collection. I've given the full prices, but, aside from the Lush products, I've never paid them! They're on offer more times than not.

The Body Shop's Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter (£12) and Silky Cleansing Oil (£10) have become my favourite cleansers. They remove makeup so well and leave my skin feeling incredibly soft. I find they both do the same job; they're just different formulas. The Silky Cleansing Oil is quicker to dispense, but the Sumptuous Cleansing Butter won't leak if you were to travel with it.

The other cleanser I've been loving is Lush's Ultrabland Facial Cleanser (£7.25/45g or £11.50/100g). Like the others, this is my second repurchase, and it won't be my last. Again, it removes my makeup well, and I can open my eyes without it stinging. It leaves my skin feeling moisturised, and my combination-oily skin would be fine if I didn't use anything else. It makes my skin feel moisturised in an ever so slightly tacky way, like I have actually just moisturised.

Another Lush favourite of mine is the Ro's Argan Body Conditioner (£16.50). This second pot was a gift I asked for, for Christmas, because it's expensive. It''s amazing, though. You put it on and wash it off in the shower, and you're left with moisturised skin, just like you would be with a body butter. It makes moisturising in the winter so easy (and a lot less cold!).

Another body product I've enjoyed using is the Imperial Leather Foamburst Luxurious Body Wash in Bewitching Blackberry & Wild Fig (£2.99-£3.15). I've tried all the scents, and this one's my favourite. I just love foam shower gels, and think these are a great alternative to the Rituals ones.

In terms of hair, the TRESemme Platinum Strength Shampoo (£4.99) really impressed me last year. I find most shampoos do the same thing, and as long as they clean my hair and don't dry it out, I'm happy. This did those things, but also made it feel incredibly soft, without weighing it down or making it greasy. The conditioner was also good, but I didn't even need it with this. I now have an entire draw of this range, which should last me through 2015!

The Naked Rescue Intensive Care Conditioner (£4.39) is still a favourite of mine. It smells great and conditions my hair like no other. The shampoo is also good, but can be a little too clarifying at times. The brand no longer has a website or social media accounts, but can still be found in Boots. I really hope they stay there!

Well, this is no surprise. The Superdrug Colour Effects Wash In Wash Out Conditioning Colours (£1.49) have been favourites of mine for years. Some of my most popular posts are of these, and they're included in nearly every Empties post. They just give my auburn hair that extra vibrancy, which I'm regularly complimented on. They've gone up in price to £1.49, but were recently on offer for 3 for £3, so I bought another 9 to add to my stock.

2014 saw me find a new appreciation for hand creams. My absolute favourites so far are the Figs & Rouge ones (£3.95/20ml or £6.95-£7.95/80ml), particularly the Cherry Blossom and Mango & Mandarin scents. I also love The Body Shop Hand Creams (£3.50), with Mango, Frosted Cranberry, and Vanilla Brulee being my favourites.

Finally, I'm never without a pack of Kleenex Shine Absorbing Sheets. They absorb any excess oil without disturbing your makeup, and I normally use these at lunchtime to freshen up. I don't think they're available in Boots or Superdrug anymore (I think they were discontinued), but you can get them on eBay and Amazon. I bought 5 packs for £3.49 including delivery (they used to be £2-3 individually).

Do you love any of these products?

The Body Shop Haul

I've been 'treating myself' a lot recently, so expect to see a few hauls!

The code I used for the products above only entitled me to 35% off (not 40% or 50% off like I usually buy with!), but it included sale items as well, so I didn't mind so much!

I'd wanted to try The Body Shop's Home Fragrance Oils for ages, so when I bought my burner, I went straight to the website. I bought Aloe & Soft Linen, Green Tea & Lemon, Pomegranate & Raspberry, Exotic, and Satsuma for £2.60 each (RRP £4).

I then bought another All In One Face Base in 02 for £9.10 (RRP £14) because I always like to be stocked up on this. It has some coverage and a velvety soft, matte finish.

From the sale, I bought the Frosted Cranberry Eau De Toilette for £2.93 (RRP £8.50), the Frosted Cranberry Body Polish for £3.25 (RRP £10), and the Raspberry Body Scrub for £4.25 (RRP £13). I want to start using body scrubs more, and these scents are a couple of my favourites!

Have you bought anything from The Body Shop recently?

Yankee Candle Haul

I've wanted a wax burner/warmer for years, but am not allowed naked flames in the house. I looked at electric ones a couple years ago, but there weren't many options and they were much more expensive than tealight ones. Then, last week, Hannah reminded me of them and I went on an online hunt. The selection still isn't great, and they're still not the cheapest, but my parents offered to buy me one for my birthday (I'm going to be 22 on the 20th). I bought the one above from here, and then set about buying some wax tarts to go with it. 

I know I went a little overboard, but I just got excited about finally being able to buy them! I bought 10 from this listing for £11.95, and another 10 from Yankee Direct (another recommendation from Hannah). The ones from Yankee Direct were 'buy 10 pay for 8', and delivery was £1.95 (£2.95 if you spend £10-£24.99 and £3.95 if you spend over £25).

They're already scenting my room, and I haven't even opened them yet! Salted Caramel is particularly strong, and one I can't see my parents appreciating, so I'm going to break it into smaller pieces.

I also wanted to try some wax melts from smaller brands to see how they compare, so look out for another haul.

Are you a fan of wax tarts? What's your favourite brand, scent, and place to buy them?

Reading | Kindle Paperwhite

I've never been against eReaders, because reading is reading, but I've just never felt the need for one myself. My dad has the original Kindle, and my sister the Fire HDX, so I'd borrow theirs. I also like going charity shopping for books, even receiving Amazon orders and opening that satisfying packaging. Still, I was running out of room and wanted my own collection of eBooks on my own device, so I bought the Kindle Paperwhite (from Boots because they've just started selling them and I had points vouchers!). 

I was going to get the Fire HDX because the graphics are obviously better, but I'd only use it for reading, so it made sense to go for the Kindle designed for just that. The Paperwhite isn't back-lit like tablets, so doesn't tire your eyes, it doesn't glare in the light, and it has a significantly longer battery life.

Yes, you do have to pay for the device and then the books on top of that, and there's no excitement in the buying of them, but there's so many more pros. It holds over 1000 books, saving space, it's a lot more comfortable to hold, you don't even have to hold it to be able to read (handy when you're eating on your lunch break), you never lose your place, and you're able to look up words with the built in dictionary. There's also plenty of free/cheap books available, which you're able to download and read within seconds.

There's this divide between paper and digital reading, but they're both reading at the end of the day, so I don't see a problem. I'll still continue to go to charity shops and buy my favourites in hard copy, but I'll just be reading more on the Kindle.

My case is from a brand called Punchcase, and was bought in Tesco for a few pounds during one of their sales. This was a couple of years ago, though, for my sister's old device. It's available on Amazon here, but they want £25.99 for it.

I've only got four books on my Kindle at the moment, so would love to add more with your recommendations. I also have a Goodreads profile here, where I'd love to add more friends.

2014 Favourites: Part One

I wasn't planning on having this many favourites, so I've split them into a couple posts. As you can see, this one contains the makeup!

There's clearly a theme with the lip products, with them either being coral or red. The ones above are No7 BB Lips Beauty Balm in Berry Rose, L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Exclusive Reds Lipstick in Julianne, Maybelline Colour Elixir in Alluring Coral, NYX Butter Gloss in Peach Cobbler, The Body Shop Colour Crush Shine Lipstick in Sunset Romance, Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipstick in Frambourjoise, Revlon ColourBurst Lip Butter in Wild Watermelon, and No7 BB Lips Beauty Balm in Geranium. Some are glossy, some are matte, some are sheer, some are opaque, but they are all absolutely beautiful.

Another lip product I've been loving is the Blistex Intensive Moisturiser. Hands down, the best lip balm I've ever tried. Unlike many, it doesn't just act as a barrier, but actually improves the condition of your lips.

I started wearing foundation in 2014, after not being able to get on with any for years. The No7 Beautifully Matte Foundation changed that. The packaging is practical, it's one of the lighter shades on the highstreet, it gives a full coverage, and doesn't feel heavy or look cakey.

The Body Shop's All In One Face Base in 02 is a product I've been using for a couple years now. It's silky and provides a little extra coverage. I've yet to come across anything better.

I don't like the handles of the Real Techniques Stippling and Powder Brushes because they take up so much room in my brush holder, but I've been using them nearly every day for the past year and they're still looking good. They've held their shape and haven't shed a hair, so I'm really pleased with them.

The No7 Instant Radiance Highlighter is just beautiful. It's the perfect candlelight shade and is easy to blend. 

The ELF Studio Eyebrow Kit in Light. I've been through so many of these over the years. I used to use the Medium shade, but started using Light in 2013/2014 and find that it's a much better suiting.

I had a couple styes in October that lead to me pulling out my eyelashes (I know), and the Eylure Individual False Lashes saved the day. I only used the short ones to fill in the gaps I had, but they looked natural and weren't that difficult to apply. They didn't last more than a day because of cleansing, but they lasted through the day without any problems. 

Another product I started using for the same reasons is the Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner in Black, and I now use it every day. It's jet black, easy to apply, and lasts all day, even on the upper waterline.

To my lower lash line, I smudge in the Maybelline Eye Studio Colour Tattoo Cream Gel Eyeshadow in On and On Bronze. It's a beautiful metallic shade that lasts all day.

Maybelline really is my favourite brand for eye products! The Rocket Mascara is another favourite of mine that I've been using for years. I don't find it clumpy in the slightest, and it really lengthens the hairs.

The last products are cream blushes. NYX's Cream Blush in Natural is my favourite blush of all time, and I've just hit pan! So proud. It's pigmented, creamy, and easy to blend. The Illamasqua Cream Blushers in Dixie and Seduce are also great, although not quite as creamy. The shades, though, are beautiful.

Are you a fan of any of these products? What were your favourites of 2014?

Lush Sale Haul

It was the early morning of Boxing Day, and I found myself dreaming of the Lush sale. You'd think I was a mad fan of the brand, but I'm not. Anyway, this dream woke me and I couldn't get back to sleep, so up I got, thinking the sale would have just started. Hours passed and still no sale. Then, when it did start, there were difficulties with the site. Most of the Christmas products I wanted didn't even show up, so I settled with four items (three of which were from the permanent line).

I bought a large bottle of Snow Fairy for £5.97, which is still overpriced for a shower gel. I like the pear drop and cotton candy scent, though, and it's one of the few that actually lingers on my skin. I had my last bottle for about 10 months before I started using it, and it still smelt the same as when I first bought it.

I then added an Each Peach (And Two's A Pair) massage bar to my basket for £2.97. I already have and love this, and it's still smelling great after all this time, so thought I may as well get another while it's half price!

I received two shampoo bars for Christmas, but that didn't stop me buying two more. How could I resist when they were down to £2.87 each? I'm going to keep the ones I'm not using in a vacuum bag to ensure they stay fresh! I've already owned Squeaky Green in the past, but am most excited to use one of the new additions; Honey I Washed My Hair. I believe my first introduction to Lush was a set gifted to me on my birthday many years ago. If I remember correctly, it contained a Butterball bath bomb and a chunk of Honey I Washed The Kids soap. The sweet scent now brings back memories and I find it comforting. They just need to bring out a Comforter smelling shampoo bar now!

Did you manage to pick anything up in the sale? I couldn't get to a store because of work, but will hopefully have more luck next time!

What I Got For Christmas

For Christmas this year, we knew most of the presents we were getting from one another in my family. It wasn't as 'exciting', but we all received things we really wanted this way. I decided to choose things I wouldn't normally buy myself. For example, I couldn't justify buying the Topshop Dressing Gown (so soft!), Lush's Ro's Argan Body Conditioner (love, but expensive) or Lindt Lindor Maxi Ball for myself, so asked my parents for them. They also bought me Lush's Montalbano and Braziliant Shampoo Bars, Accessorize Koala Slippers, and a tin of sweets (mostly for the tin to store my baking bits in!).

From my sister, I received the Clintons Heart Print Diary (great quality pages), Paperchase List Book and Pen (love the print), battenberg shaped tin with recipe notes (we used to eat these on the way home from school - makes me feel sick just thinking about it now!), Next Apricot Blossom LED Candles, Next Apricot Blossom Reed Diffuser (had the smaller one previously and loved it), a pretty Next glass for milkshakes, and some sweet treats.

I just wanted to show you the things I chose, instead of everything I received. I had to include the Debenhams Fox Slippers my friend got me, though, because they're so cute!

I hope you had a good Christmas!

Boots Star Gift - No7 Ultimate Collection

The last Star Gift leading up to Christmas is the No7 Ultimate Collection. It's better than half price at £37, down from £75. They've annoyingly increased the price from last year, but you still get £124.45 worth (the box says 'over £130 worth', but I've worked it out to be £124.45). I bought this for the Protect and Perfect Intense creams, which are £23 and £24 on their own. I'm also intrigued to try the rest of the contents in the smaller box. I'm thinking about leaving the products in the larger box and giving as a present, possibly for Mother's Day.

In the No7 Ultimate Collection, you receive:

Protect and Perfect Intense Day Cream - £23

Protect and Perfect Intense Night Cream - £24

Protect and Perfect Intense Hand Cream - £10.50

Beautiful Skin Dry Skin Rescue - £12

Lovely Lashes Mascara in Black - £12.95

BB Lips Beauty Balm in Ballerina - £9

Blissful Body Wash - £7.50

Beautiful Skin Cleansing Lotion - £9.50

Sumptuous Bath Soak - £7.50

Completely Quenched Body Lotion - £8.50

I think this would make a great last minute Christmas gift, especially because it's packaged so beautifully. Or you can buy it for yourself, like I did!

Foundation (No7 Beautifully Matte and Stay Perfect)

2014 has been the year I've started wearing foundation. Before, I just used concealer because I didn't like the way foundation looked on my skin, or the colour selections available. I would have continued doing so, but as well as using it on blemishes and under my eyes, I started using it on the rosy bottoms of my cheeks and my nose where there's so many freckles that it's a couple shades darker than the rest of my face. I thought it'd be more cost effective to just buy a foundation.

I bought the No7 Beautifully Matte (£13.50) and Stay Perfect (£14.50) foundations because I had a Boots employee voucher. I wouldn't have bought them if it wasn't for this, but now that I've used them, I'd buy them again. I have the lightest shade (Calico) in both of these, and although I think it's still one shade too dark for me, my sister insists it looks fine. It's also lighter than most other highstreet foundations I've seen. Although the Stay Perfect packaging looks more appealing, with its glass bottle, the Beautifully Matte one is definitely more practical, pushing the product up so none is wasted. Aside from this, they're very similar, in terms of formulation. The Beautifully Matte one is ever so slightly more matte (hence the name), but that's it. They both have a medium to full coverage, don't feel heavy or look cakey, and have an SPF of 15. They don't keep my oily complexion at bay all day, though, even with a primer and powder, so I have to use shine absorbing sheets half way through to help control this.

I would absolutely love for them to bring out a lighter shade, but for now, these are doing a great job, and have converted me to foundation. I would love to try some others, though, so let me know your recommendations (especially if you're as pale as me!).

Sheer, Berry Lips

Although I'm not one to adhere to seasonal shades, I do find myself gravitating towards berry lip products more in the winter months. A lot of people prefer their lighter, summer shades to be glossy, and darker, winter shades to be matte, but I've been liking something in between. You see, I'm still dipping my toes into the darker shades water, and I feel like the shades above are perfect for that introduction. 

The No7 BB Lips Beauty Balm in Berry Rose (£9) and Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick in Raplumsel (£8) are both incredibly balmy, which is why I love them so much. They also fade well, are quick and easy to reapply, and your lips don't have to be in perfect condition for them to look good. All of these aspects make up for the fact that they don't last as long as a heavier lip product would. The other shades I have of these are also some of my favourites, so I'd definitely recommend looking out for the ranges on your next shopping trip.

What kind of lip products do you see yourself gravitating towards in the colder months?

The Body Shop Hand Creams (Including New Christmas Scents, Frosted Cranberry and Vanilla Brulee)

My hands go through a lot more now that I've left uni and started work, so I've found a new appreciation for hand cream. The ones from Figs & Rouge are some of my favourites, but I'm really liking these from The Body Shop. 

Like the Figs & Rouge ones, they're not greasy in the slightest, but still leave your hands feeling moisturised. Unsurprisingly, I bought the Mango one first, which smells just as good as the other products in the range. Then, after smelling the new Christmas scents, I decided to buy two out of three of the hand creams available. Frosted Cranberry smells like the old Cranberry Joy range, and has a beautiful, crisp berry scent. Vanilla Brulee was a pleasant surprise, smelling exactly like the name suggests. I was expecting a simple, been-done vanilla scent that just had a fancy name. It really does smell like a dessert, though. Glazed Apple is the other seasonal scent, and although I like it, I'd prefer a crisp apple fragrance over the sweet one it has.

They're £3.50 for 30ml, but I've never paid more than £2.10 because of the offers and codes they always have going on. Still more than your standard tube of hand cream, but they're worth it for the scents alone! They're also perfect handbag size.

Have you tried The Body Shop's hand creams? Or smelt the new Christmas scents yet?

Soap & Glory Christmas Gift Sets

Soap & Glory are known to have great Christmas gift sets, but only this year have I bought them. I think it's because 2014 has been the year I've really started loving their products. I still don't care for their classic scent, but am a fan of their Sugar Crush range, as well as their makeup and facial skincare. I'm introducing my mum to the brand by gifting her with three of the sets this Christmas, but thought I'd talk a little more about the two gifts I've bought myself! Because you have to treat yourself when Christmas shopping, right?

Soap & Glory Your Own Sweet Lime Gift Set - £10

They have a couple of these hatboxes available this year, and I think they're the perfect way to introduce someone to the range, or even give to someone who's already a fan. The products are also great for travelling. The main reason why I bought this, though, is because it contains a Sugar Crush Hand Food. A Sugar Crush Hand Food! I've been loving hand creams recently, and adore the sweet lime scent of Sugar Crush, so this is perfect. 50ml is a decent size, too.

Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Crayons Gift Set - £16

These crayons (which are full sized) are £8 individually, so you're getting three for the price of two here. The shades included are Fuchsiaristic, Bashful, and Raplumzel. Fuchsiaristic is a bright pink, Bashful is a natural pink, and Raplumzel is a plum, hence the name. I already have Fuchsiaristic, and since they're individually wrapped, will be giving to a friend as part of her present. The crayons are sheer, but can be built up, and are incredibly balmy. I'd definitely recommend them.

The gifts, which can be found in Boots and start from £5, are also 3 for 2, so you can get a little more for your money. Will you be gifting a Soap & Glory set this year? Or do you plan on treating yourself to one?

A New Fragrance

When Burberry Body was released a few years ago, I only wore fruity body mists. It's only in the last few months that I've started wearing perfume on a daily basis, actually. So, when I received a sample of this, I was surprised by how much I liked it. It's not light and floral like my Marc Jacobs or Nina Ricci fragrances. It's more sophisticated and has top notes of green absinthe, peach, and freesia, heart notes of natural rose absolute, iris, and sandalwood, and base notes of woody cashmeran, creamy vanilla, sensual amber, and musk. It's warm, slightly sweet, and lasts for hours on the skin. I love it the most when the softer base notes come through because it's quite strong at first. Some have labelled it as an 'old' scent, but I don't think it is, and have read many comments from twenty-somethings sharing my opinion. Although I love my other fragrances, they don't last that long, so I'm definitely going to be looking at eau de parfums over eau de toilettes in the future.

I wanted to buy this perfume when it was first released, but it was a lot of money, and then I forgot about it. Then, about a week ago, I was browsing allbeauty.com when I came across it again. They have the eau de toilettes, eau de parfums, body milk, body spray, limited edition packaging, Intense, and Tender versions. I went for the original eau de parfum 85ml for £36.95 instead of £75 (they've now increased the price to £39.95). It's also available in rose gold packaging, but the bottle is opaque metal rather than glass, and I don't like it as much. I'm happy with the original packaging because it's simply beautiful!

I've bought a couple fragrances and makeup products from All Beauty now (formerly known as Cheap Smells), and I'd definitely recommend them. They've been cheaper than Fragrance Direct for the perfumes I've wanted, so it's worth comparing both sites before purchasing from one!

Have you bought anything from All Beauty before?

Empties #10

Mitchum Pure Fresh Deodorant Stick, £3.20-£3.35/41g, Boots or Superdrug

I rarely talk about deodorant on here because there's not much to say about it, but thought I'd mention this one because it's my new favourite. It comes in a stick formula, which is my favourite, it smells fresh (and also sherbety?), and keeps me dry and smelling clean. They're usually on offer for 2 for £4, too.

Aussie Miracle Hair Insurance Leave In Conditioner, £4.49/250ml, Boots or Superdrug

A classic. I've been through bottles and bottles of this stuff. It smells incredible and leaves your hair feeling soft.

No7 Beautiful Skin Quick Thinking Wipes, £7/30 wipes, Boots

I would never, ever pay £7 for these, and I don't think anyone does. They're usually the product people pick up when the £5 off vouchers are floating around (which is regularly). They removed all my makeup easily enough and didn't dry my skin out, but then my Simple Baby Moisturising Wipes don't either (and they're a lot cheaper!). I've already bought another pack of these because I can get them for 42p with staff discount, but I wouldn't recommend them over any others.

Maybelline The Rocket Volum' Express Mascara, £7.99/9ml, Boots or Superdrug

One of my all time favourite mascaras. It darkens and lengthens my lashes, and doesn't clump, which is all I look for in a mascara.

Lush Whoosh Shower Jelly, £3.50/100g, Lush

I used to be a Lush Mystery Shopper, so bought this with the credit they gave me. It smells very fresh, which I love, but it's not something I'd buy again. It's expensive for what it is, and you end up wasting a lot of it. I can appreciate the gimmick, though, and think it's worth trying at least once!

Superdrug Face & Bikini Wax Strips, £4.29/20, Superdrug, review here

They remove the hair I want without irritating my skin, and that's all I can ask for! My hair grows so fast that I have to use these every couple of weeks, but I don't mind for the price. I usually buy them when they're on offer for 2 for £5 (which is now!)

Imperial Leather Foamburst Luxurious Body Wash in Moisturising Honey & Almond Milk, £3.15/200ml, Boots or Superdrug, review here and here

I love these body washes. I prefer the fruitier scents, but still enjoyed this one. It's slightly sweet, but still neutral, so I can see many people liking it. I usually buy them when they're on offer for £2, but definitely think they're worth the price.

Have you tried any of these products?

Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde Mascara just £3.60 at Superdrug (for one day only!)

I know a lot of people are fans of this mascara, so thought I'd inform you of this fantastic deal. The Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde Mascara is just £3.60 for the next day on superdrug.com, instead of £9.99. Not only this, but it's also included in the current 3 for 2 on cosmetics deal, so you're able to buy three for just £2.40 each. It's also triple points on cosmetics and free delivery for those with a beauty card (otherwise delivery is £3 or free when you spend over £10).

I recently included this mascara in an empties and said I found it a little too clumpy in the beginning, but liked it after. I wasn't going to repurchase, but it's definitely worth the money at this price!

You can find the offer here. Let me know if you buy one (or three!).

UPDATE: It's now sold out on Superdrug, but you can get it on Feel Unique for £3.60 here (limited time!).

The Body Shop Haul

Just hours after publishing this post, I placed another order with The Body Shop. Two, in fact, to make the most of the £20 off £40 code (14320, ends 11.11.2014). They annoyingly upped their free delivery threshold to £30 instead of £20, so I had to pay two lots of postage (I couldn't use the code in my local store), but managed to get £40 off the products you see above. Most of them are presents, but I couldn't resist a couple things for myself!

Frosted Cranberry Treat Box £7

Frosted Cranberry Tubes of Treasures £15

Frosted Cranberry Body & Room Spray £7

Soft Hands, Warm Kisses Mango £7

Voyage Eau De Toilette Trio Gift £15

Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter £12

Japanese Cherry Blossom Mini Gift Set £8

White Musk Shower, Soften & Spritz Set £14

Will you be buying any of The Body Shop's Christmas gifts this year? I'll be buying a few more when the sales start!