Beauty On A Budget!

What is Beauty On A Budget?
So i thought that it would be a nice idea to do a quick post on dupes or budget friendly versions of products that are "higher priced." Im not comparing the products in any way but simply just giving you a rough idea of similar products that you can get your hands on for at least half the price. I for one love spending money on cosmetics and whilst i like to treat myself to higher end products i do think there are great high street products that are very similar out there. Now like i said before im not going to compare the products as such being that things that work for one person won't always work for others so therefore im just going to talk about the similarities and price of them.

Benefit Porefessional - £23

The Body Shop Pore Minimizer - £7.99

In my opinion these are too products that are very very similar in what they aim to do. Both are designed to minimize the appearance of large pores are work equally as good. Both are a gel like consistency that sinks in very quickly allowing makeup to be applied smoothly.  The only difference is that The Body Shop one is a lot cheaper!

Benefit Dandelion Blush - £21

 

w7 Candy Floss Blush - £4

Im a huge fan of Benefit's Dandelion blush and have used it religiously for ages, but when i discovered this candy floss blush by w7 i couldn't help but notice the massive similarities, i do however feel as though Candy floss is slightly paler than dandelion but other than that there almost identical and there both boxed and come with brushes.

OPI Rainbow Connection - £11

Technic Carnival - £1.99

 Glitter nails have become hugely popular in the last year and i think everyone has at least heard of OPI rainbow connection which retails for £11. Which i really like but for just £1.99 you can grab yourself Technic Carnival another multi coloured glitter polish which is similar and is equally as popular. Both consist of multi coloured glitter in large and medium chunks and even have the same sort of bottle!

HD Brows Palette - £22

GOSH eyebrow Palette - £8.99

  Last but not least of two very popular eyebrow palettes, first is the HD Brows kit which has become a staple thanks to Glossy Box, but at £22 i think its a little overpriced so when i hit pan on the dark brown shade i searched around for something similar and brought this little beauty, its very similar in both packaging and content but again for a fraction of the price.

So thats it, hope you enjoyed reading!

Mini Reviews

Hey, so i thought it was about time i started to review products a little more as after all this is suppose to be a "beauty blog" yet i don't seem to review things that often? Anyway i just have a few things to review for now as with christmas coming up im trying to slow down spending unless its on things that are necessary.

First up is the Nivea Express Hydration Primer

Nivea Express Hydration Primer - £3.99 

Firstly i like how Nivea have created one for Normal-combination skin and one for Dry-Sensitive Skin. I did however find it a struggle choosing between them as i have combination yet sensitive skin. In the end i opted for the Normal-combination version. The consistency of the product in my opinion is perfect, a weightless gel like formula that sits comfortably on the skin feeling weightless and refreshing. With it being both a primer and moisturizer its two steps in one making it the perfect product for those early mornings where moisturizing then priming is just a chore! I don't however think it helps in making make-up last any longer but it does allow it to sit better and look smoother when first applied.

Superdrug Vitamin E Hot Cloth Cleanser - 

Superdrug Hot Cloth Cleanser - £5.99

I cheaper version of the Liz Earle cleanse and polish, but not in a bad way as i think this actually works just as well. At £5.99 you get a 100ml  tube of cleanser and 1 muslin cloth. I used t use Liz Earle all the time when i was younger but at £15 i think it can be a little pricey so to find something that works as well but for a fraction of the price is great! Consistency wise its not as thick as the Liz Earle one however i think thats better in some ways as a little goes along way. I also think this would be great for all skin types (apart from the extremely dry ones) as it helps to remove makeup, deeply cleanse the skin, exfoliate. It also states that is for sensitive skin, so like cleanse&polish it isn't irritating and won't dry the skin out.


MUA Eyebrow Kit -

MUA eyebrow kit - £3.50

Two shades which can be mixed,one highlight colour and a wax.

Ive always been a fan of MUA products as i think there surprisingly good quality to say they cost very little, so when i heard about the new Eyebrow Kit i new i had to try it. I first started using eyebrow powders i few years back so since then ive tried a fair few. My favourite so far has been either the HD brows palette or the much loved Sleek Eyebrow Palette. However i do really like this one, my only issues are that it says it contains a highlight colour, im guessing its the colour next to the wax? which in my opinion isn't a very good highlight colour especially if you have yellow under tones. Secondly the packaging isn't very secure as the lid comes open easily so its really something you would be able to just chuck into your bag. Apart from that i think like all MUA products its great quality to say it retails for only £3.50 and at that price you can't complain to much. 


Thanks for reading!

 

Botanics Deep Pore Cleansing Mouse

I can't begin to tell you how much i love this product, its something that has been sitting in the back of my draw for a while and although ive looked at it numerous times ive always though "hmm ill use that soon" and "soon" has just never come lol.

To me this is a cleanser that would be suitable for most skin types, apart from the super oily or the extremely dry ones. But for anybody with normal,dry,oily,combo or even sensitive skin this would work well for. Its a mouse so very gentle and kind to the skin and i find that with mouse products they just seem to last longer as a little goes along way. The packaging is nice as it has a pump meaning its easy to use and travel friendly (although i do find the lid comes off very easily but that shouldn't be a problem).

Containing rosemary to protect and clarify and willow bark to exfoliate and clear it leaves skin feeling clean whilst not being to abrasive and irritating. I also find that it helps to reduce redness as its so gentle (however this may only be the case for some people as it doesn't state that is redness reducing in any way). The cleanser is also oil-free so great for people with oily skin types.

In terms of blemish clearing it does help to combat the amount of blemishes you get as i found that i didn't get hardly any whilst using this. But if you already have existing blemishes it doesn't do a great job of clearing them.

Conclusion:
Retailing for around £6 i think this is a really inexpensive but effective cleanser that i will definatley be using more from now on :)   

Chritmas Is Coming!

My favourite time of year by far is Christmas, i love everything about it. The tree, the shopping, dark nights even going to buy the turkey gets me excited haha. Therefore i thought now was a great time to post about five things that remind me christmas is on its way ...

The world famous Coca-Cola advert. I know it sounds cheesey but i actually wait for this advert every year lol Its the little tune they do at the end that gets me! 

Christmas Scented Candles, not necessarily Yankee candles but just any that have the spicy/berry scent. This year though ive purchased the Red Berry and Cider Yankee candle which is definatley going to see me through the winter, look at the size of it!

Although they seem to go up earlier and earlier every year, i love to pop down to my local town to check out the lights and the christmas tree especially when its dark. They really light everything up and look amazing.

Starbucks Coffee - every year Starbucks bring out there Christmas favourites and this year ive been craving the gingerbread latte, plus the cups are now red!

When Boots bring there christmas brochure out you know its only a matter of time before you have to have a peak through it, plus christmas gifts are on 3for2 so it makes christmas shopping a whole lot cheaper.

Beauty&Boots Mini Haul

Ive struggled so much over the last few days trying to find something interesting to post about, its coming up to christmas which is normally the most hectic time of year for me but the last week or so has been really quiet and ive literally just been busy doing nothing for a change!

However i have had a trip or three to Boots for christmas pressie shopping but thats a whole other post haha. Today though i thought i would just keep it simple and show you some of the more basic beauty items ive picked up .....

First up is a MUA lipstick i ordered a few weeks back its in the shade "Bare" however on the label it says its Juicy? anyway i checked in store and ive defiantly recieved the right shade. Its a pretty basic Nude to be honest nothing special but just a handy colour to have really and its only £1 ... plus Superdrug have free delivery on until December 4th!

A few deodorants from Sure when i purchased these they were only £1 which is a good deal as there normally around £3. I didn't buy 3 because i stink don't worry!  but simply because whenever there is a offer on i seem to buy every shade/fragrance/colour that is available aha. 

The Nail Doctor "Ridge Filler" (the peach one) - The only nail treatment that is similar to this that i have tried is O.P.I's ridge filler which in my opinion wasn't worth the £11 price tag! This one however cost just £1.99 and its just as good as the O.P.I one.

The Nail Doctor " Nail Brightening Treatment" - Again at £1.99 i feel as though this is a bargain im a little skeptical when it comes to brightening/whitening treatments as a lot of them of rubbish but because im wearing darker colours as we approach winter i thought it would be a good idea to invest in something cheap as my nails get discolored and dull very easily and because its cheap i wont be bothered if this doesn't work wonders.

Tresseme Deep Cleansing Shampoo - I love this stuff and buy it regular, it does state that its for everyday use however i don't really use that much product on my hair just a bit of hairspray now and again so for me using this once a week just to get rid of any product build up is good.

Tresseme Dry Shampoo - After being a firm Batiste lover for many years now i thought i might try another dry shampoo see if it can live up to the much loved Batiste, ive used this a couple times now and it does work but not as good as my Batiste one unfortunately.  

Last but not least are a couple of polishes from tesco's All About Nails collection, i actually think the collection is pretty good if im honest it has a range of different colours from a light pastel yellow to dark emerald greens the shades that i picked however are Raspberry ( a purple/pink) and Sweet Cherry ( a medium red with a pink pearl finish) and they were only £1 each!


While were on that note about Tesco, i thought i would show you the boots i picked up from there a few weeks ago, i own a few pairs of chelsea boots now but they were quite expensive and not really the sort that i would wear to walk the dog in or step out in the snow wearing however when i spotted these i thought they were the perfect pair, they were cheap enough not have to worry about getting dirty but at the same time they don't look that cheap and i think might even  prefer them to a the pair that cost me double the amount ....

Faux Leather Tan Chelsea Boots - £12 Tesco

Thanks for reading x

 

 


     

Chritmas Gift Ideas: Mens

 A week or so ago you may have read my girls christmas gift idea post. With having a good response to that one i thought i would continue to do the same sort of post but for men/boys. I have picked out these items with a no sort of age category in mind so therefore im hoping it will be suitable for anybody from your boyfriend to your grandad. With saying that though i may still do a post aimed at the older generation with gifts such as slippers/DVDs etc as i personally find my grandma and grandad the hardest people to buy for at this time of year. So before i start rambling  on about unnecessary things ill begin...

Moustache Tee - This ones from River Island and retails for £12 but you can find different styles almost anywhere atm as moustache's are proving to be popular this season. A cheap and cheerfull gift that i think a range of men would enjoy wearing.

Lynx Shower Gel And Spray Gift Set - I don't know a man who doesn't love lynx there are just so many scents to choose from so your bound to find the perfect one for him. At £6 i think these are great stocking fillers or are nice to give on there own as they don't cost a fortune. How about buying a few different ones so he never has to rush out to buy shower gel again!

Mr Grumpy Mug - My family likes to give out little cheerful gifts such as this at christmas time and there are a range of different Mr men mugs to choose from so one for everybody. Debenhams £6

Ralph Lauren Hat - £40 might seem a little expensive for a hat but he's gonna love this Ralph Lauren one and again there's loads of different colours to choose from. And if he's not a lover of hats check out the rest of there stuff such as there polo's and jumpers.

Asos Armani Exchange Watch - Want to treat him this christmas he will never be late again and will always look great wearing this Armani watch. I know men are fussy when it comes to jewelery and watches but i really think this would suit a range of people as its big, gold and is defiantly on trend.  A little pricey at £185 but i personally think its worth every penny!

Dolce&Gabbana The One For Men - With so many different fragrances to choose from, finding the right one can be hard especially when your buying for a man. My boyfriend loves this though and i know quite a few men who do so this may be a safe bet. If not then you could always trick him into telling you which one he would pick if he was to have a choice.

Family Guy Box Set - I couldn't find a picture of the box set itself but i know that family guy is popular with a lot people especially men and you can pick up season 1-6 for just £40. If not family guy there are loads on amazon for under £50.

Brain Blasterz Candy -  Whilst on a spree in River Island the other day i noticed they had quite a sweetie section going on. A great stocking filler?

Beats By Dr.Dre Headphones - These are a little hit and miss as there not up everyone's street. But for those men who like to listen to music on the go these would be perfect! This particular pair cost around £124 but my boyfriend has a pair so speaking from experience there well worth the money.

Xbox Kinect Bundle - Its been around for a while now, so even if he has the Kinect already why not get him a couple extra games or im sure he would be grateful for Halo 4 thats coming out soon or so im told haha.

Vans - These were the first thing that popped into my head when thinking of mens christmas presents there just so easy to get hold of and can be purchased from a wide variety of places. I found these blue ones at office for £42 but the prices range and if there smaller than a size 6 there way cheaper!

Phone Case - As seen in my gift guide for girls i don't really think you can go wrong with a phone case as they prices start from as little as £2 and there are just so many to choose from.

Other idea's would be .... A gift experience card (boots do some great ones!)  a gift voucher for his favourite store? or maybe a surprise weekend away or day trip (something he can really look forward to)


 

Mua Haul

Hey just me again ... recently i stopped by the Mua stand in superdrug, something i don't normally do as i find there products to be a little hit and miss. But after hearing that they have brought out there own version of the Caviar Manicure i thought i would take a peek. I also picked up some of there cream blush which i had heard really good reviews about and one of there love heart collection polishes as it was the only shade in the collection i hadn't already got. And whilst making an online order i purchased a lipstick in shade Bare (i have shade juicy on its way as we speak as well haha).

Sorry for the crappy picture it was taken whilst dark outside.

 

 Mua caviar manicure beads - I was really happy to know that a high street brand had finally released a cheaper version of the caviar manicure. Whilst the Ciate ones were really nice, they were a little overpriced in my opinion. The Mua beads can either be brought on there own (unlike the Ciate ones) or can be brought in a set with a base polish. These a lot of different ones to choose from i personally want to get my hands on the white and pink ones next and there's defiantly something to suit everybody. Plus there only £3 which is a complete bargain!

Mua love hearts collection polish in shade: u r fab - the photo didn't really do these products justice (which i apologize again for) but in real life this is a gorgeous purple shade with a red hint to it. Defiantly the best one in the range for Autumn/winter.

Mua cream blush in shade: blossom - After hearing all the talk of these being really good, i finally gave in and purchased one even though i don't normally like cream blush ( i find them quite annoying to apply and blend) I like the consistency of these but there is just no colour, i literally applied three/four layers of this to my hand to try and swatch and still barely a hint of colour. Its probably just this particular shade to be honest so im going to go swatch some others in store next time im in superdrug. But apart from the distinct lack of pigmentation i think they are bang on with the consistency as they seem to be really easy to blend.

Mua lipstick in shade: Bare - I love Mua's new range of lipsticks, i wasnt a big fan of the colour choice in there older range but i think there newer ones are much more on trend. Bare is a simple but lovely nude shade but its a rather dark nude so it doesn't make you look to washed out. I also mentioned that i have shade Juicy on its way which is a mid coral colour (gonna be perfect for next spring/summer).

Thanks for reading (sorry again for the bad pictures blame the dark evening lol) next post is going to be a boys/mens christmas gift guide.   

Woodland Insperation

Just a quick post from me today as im about to go out for a lovely meal, but before i go i put together some lovely pieces inspired by woodland animals. Ive noticed in my last few shopping trips that there seems to be a bit of a woodland theme going on at the moment and thought i would get in on the action by showing some pieces ive found and love!