I might seem crazy, but at Christmas I had hid £300 that I got from various family members under my bed so I didn't waste it on petrol or a night out. I wanted to save it for some things I have been wanting for a while, and finally got the chance to cross the Thames and visit Bluewater. I could have saved myself £4 in toll charges and gone to Lakeside instead, but they don't have brands like Laura Mercier, Keihls, Bobbi Brown, Mac, Origins or any of the other higher end beauty brands. Bluewater is on a whole other level to Lakeside. Lakeside is a place where 16 year chavs congregate with no intentions to buy anything (accept maybe McDonalds with bus vouchers), but to be a general annoyance to me instead. On the other hand is Bluewater, chav free, with the loveliest shops. After only recently dipping my toes into the world of high-end/damn expensive beauty products, I am now hooked and my collection is fast growing and my bank balance fast declining.
Mac Lipstick in Ruby Woo £15
Mac Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Blossom Culture £15
I think it is an absolute travesty that there is only ONE, Mac counter in the whole of Essex. What are they thinking? And even though it is in Essex, it's further away from me than going into another county. When I finally got my Mac fix, the woman on the counter was so rude. However, I finally got my hands on the Ruby Woo lipstick (maybe I did get it because of my name, maybe I didn't), and also picked up this Sheen Supreme lipstick in Blossom Culture. It's a 'my lips but better, glossy and lovely' colour, so basically nothing like my lips.
Laura Mercier Second Skin Blush in Lotus Pink £20.50
Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation in Cashew Beige £33
I have been eyeing up the Laura Mercier blush in Lotus Pink for a while now, and finally took the plunge. I didn't feel guilty spending over £20 on it because blushes are the item I lack in my makeup collection.
I know there is a 'Blogger Made Me Do It Tag' floating around somewhere and this is what happened with the Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation. The BBloggers Chat on twitter is so fun, but so dangerous. It ended with me having a long list of stuff other people raved about and I now wanted. Tanya Burr for one uses this foundation, and she looks amazing always. It's pricey, but makes my skin look both natural, flawless and glow at the same time - who doesn't want that?!
Bobbi Brown Blush in Nectar - £19.50
If you saw my last high-end beauty haul, you might be thinking wondering why it's in this haul too. Basically what happened was I was in the process of returning this blush, I was at the Bobbi Brown counter looking at which blush I wanted to exchange it for. My eyes were instantly attracted to one colour, I asked the assistant what the name was and it was only the bloody one I was about to return. She then started persuading me to keep it, that it would 'go with both red and pink lipsticks', that it 'suited my skin tone so well'. So I did.
Kiehls Midnight Recovery Concentrate £36
Kiehls Ultra Facial Moisturiser Free Samples
I am not the type to be talked into something that I have never even thought of buying or heard of for that matter, but that's what happened when I went to browse the Kiehls counter. This is along the lines of the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair, but not only £12 cheaper, but apparently more superior. Whether this is true or not I have no idea, but I kid you not, my skin has never looked better since I have tried this product. I am definitely going to do a review on this, as it deserves a whole post of it's own.
Origins Drink Up Intensive 10 minute mask £22
My skin has dried up like a prune due to my Hyperthyroidism, and I needed something to inject some moisture back in without slathering a thick cream over my face. I have heard so much about Origins and particularly the Drink Up masks. I went for the 10 minute instead of the overnight because the less effort something involves, the more likely I am to use it.
Topshop Fluffy Crop Jumper in Peach £34
I am so in love with this jumper! I love peach, I love cropped clothing, and I love fluffy jumper so this purchase was a no brainer. I have already worn it to death, and you can see me sporting it in a recent OOTD
here.
Topshop Curve Hem Crop Jumper in Ice Blue £36
Before the whole scandal about the production of angora in Asia coming out in press, when a product was Angora, it was openly advertised as it was seen as higher quality if it did include it. Now people know that the angora trade involves rabbits being tortured and skinned alive for their fur, people don't want to buy it. Topshop did announce that they were not buying angora anymore, but obviously they have stock that has been produced before this all came to light. When I picked this jumper up, I had no idea that it was made with angora and bought it none the wiser. After looking at the inside labels to see how to wash it before I wore it, I saw it was made with 14% angora. I would never knowingly wear something where an animal was tortured for the sake of a jumper as I would have a guilty conscience, so I took it straight back to Topshop for a refund. People may say, well you wear leather, you eat meat. But the difference is, cows, pigs and chickens are bred and killed for every part of them to be used. With angora, these rabbits are being bred and their fur removed while they are alive for no other purpose than to use it in clothing. If there is no demand for angora rabbit fur, then this doesn't need to happen. To cut a long story short, when buying knitwear from places like Topshop,
please check that it does not include angora rabbit fur in it. There is a petition on the PETA website that you can sign to help put the angora rabbit fur trade to a stop. This jumper is lovely, but not as lovely as a little while rabbit! Rant over.
