...DEBORAH LIPPMANN TRIO.

A few weeks ago I'd seen on Make Up Savvy blog that TK Maxx were offering up 3 Deborah Lippmann nail polishes for £15. This made my ears prick up and I headed over to my nearest store at the next given opportunity. 

Modern Love / Cleopatra In New York / Just Walk Away Renee

Well, lovely Fee over at the blog was not lying, and to add to my joy, they had actually been marked down further to just £12! Given that the classic polishes retail separately for £15 and the glitter polishes £17, I'd say that this purchase was somewhat of a no brainer.

Each shade is absolutely perfect for Autumn/Winter and the pack as a whole is a great mini collection offering up a creamy lilac-y grey nude in Modern Love, a deep and moody autumnal red in Just Walk Away Renee, and an essential Christmas gold glitter housed in a sheer black polish in Cleopatra In New York.

Each of the creamy shades is perfectly opaque and glossy in two coats, and applied over a shiny black polish (I used Avon Speed Dry+ in Rapid Black) the glitter shade, which holds various sized gold specks, applies evenly and can be built up to be as subtle or glitter heavy as you like.

I am not usually one to venture into the hectic rubble that is TK Maxx, but after discovering the gems hidden within their beauty department, I will definitely be visiting more often. They have a great selection of great brands (I've spotted Murad, Clarins and Leighton Denny too!) both online and in their stores, but the stock will differ between them so it's worth checking both.

Hunt down your beauty bargains here.

...KRISTEN STEWART FOR CHANEL.

...I'm not convinced.

Image via Google

But then, who am I to question the mind of Karl Lagerfeld?

She wouldn't have been my first choice though... Or second... Or third. 

Just sayin'.

...PRE-FALL 2014.

So the Pre-Fall Collections are rolling in thick and fast.

Let's take a moment to marvel at some of the best looks, shall we?

3.1 Phillip Lim, PF14

Burberry Prorsum, PF14

Erdem, PF14

Gucci, PF14

Mulberry, PF14

Narciso Rodriguez, PF14

Thakoon Addition, PF14

More than enough to keep our sartorial juices flowing until February, wouldn't you agree?

All photos via Style.com

...TIRED EYES TAMER // BOBBI BROWN CORRECTOR.

I caved. I'd seen way too many rave reviews on this little pot of wonder that I couldn't bring myself to walk past the Bobbi Brown concession and not pick it up.

I do struggle with dark circles. Despite getting a good 8 hours a night, and treating my eyes with various lotions and potions morning and evening, all signs were pointing towards the Bobbi Brown Corrector as my saving grace.

Bobbi Brown Corrector - £18.50

The sales assistant on the counter in Fenwicks, Newcastle, was really helpful and explained the difference in tones and why the 'Bisque' shade was best for my particular skin tone.

 

She applied a layer of this creamy solution over the offending shadows and finished with a dab of concealer over the top. Unfortunately, I already had make up on so the result was a bit cakey, but I could see the difference the Corrector made straight away.

 

Using it the next day on a fresh face, I immediately knew what all the fuss was about. I have been using it on top of my foundation, along with a little covering of Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer just to bring everything together. I would be interested to see the finish on it if I were to use it underneath my foundation. 

Now I know I not the first person to say this, not by a long shot, but this is a make up bag must have for any one that suffers with unsightly dark circles that no amount of sleep or water will cure.

It is available from Bobbi Brown counters and online, and also at John Lewis, Selfridges and Harrods, amongst others.

Are you a fan of the Bobbi Brown Corrector?

...KATE MOSS X PLAYBOY.

WOW. JUST WOW.

Images via High Snobiety
 

Kate Moss being ridiculous for Playboy's 60th Anniversary Edition. Shot by Mert & Marcus. 

Now excuse me while I pick my chin back up off the floor.

See the full editorial here.

...SMITTEN // SALLY HANSEN INSTA-DRI TOP COAT.

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat - £5.99

I'm sure it's not just me that battles with a more than irritating duvet imprint on my seemingly dry nails the morning after an at-home mani. Well, those angry mornings will be no more as I have found the cure.

The Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat (Available at Boots) promises long lasting shine and chip resistance on any nail polish in just 30 seconds - They weren't lying.

I picked this up after I went into Boots to buy the Nails Inc. Kensington Caviar Top Coat and it was sold out and to be honest, I'm glad. At half the price and with a formula that protects even polishes with the longest drying times from smudges and funny imprints, this is a complete miracle find. I've used it only a couple of times so far, but I am that impressed that I can already see a repurchase happening. 

Have you given this top coat a go? Do you recommend a different one?

...LOVE AT FIRST SCENT.

This weekend, I fell in love and I fell hard. 

Image via The White Company

The 'Pomegranate' scented candle from The White Company has cast its spell on me and I cannot break away from its allure. This particular candle is part of their 'Signature' frangrance collection, which offers a variety of other beautiful aromas such as 'Seychelles' - an exotic mix of bergamot, vanilla & coconut which I was also VERY tempted by - and 'Verveine' - an awakening citrus blend.

The scent filled me with warmth and comfort the second it hit my nose, like a big Christmas hug. Combined with mandarin, patchouli and amber, this, for me, is the perfect winter candle and due to my inability to dispel the craving for it's delicious scent, I will be returning to the store to purchase the candle this weekend. 

You can also buy it on The White Company's website, along with a number of other home scenting options. 

...OBSESSED.

Do you ever find yourself inexplicably lusting over something, a piece that really just isn't 'you' but for some reason, you've fell for it hook, line and sinker?

Yes? No? Well, that's where I'm at now, and have been for the past week - I can not keep my eyes off this dress from River Island. 

EVERY time I'm online, which is a lot of the time, my fingers tip-tap their way to the River Island website, and before I know it I'm ogling this far-from-my-usual-style floor length number. And just to add to my confusion, they've thrown an oxblood version into the mix. Yeah, thanks for that, RI.

Images via River Island

I am not the biggest fan of the maxi in general, and that's why my need - yes, NEED - for this dress shocked me initially. But it's something about that v-neck, the capped sleeves, the draped column and curve-loving ruching that has me coming back to it, day after day after day. And will probably mean I end up purchasing both colours too - I'm thinking burgundy for NYE and grey for every other time after that.

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...NEW ADDITIONS // SKINCARE.

I'd come to the end of a few products this last week, so it was time to throw a few new things into my everyday skincare routine. I splashed out a little and also got a bit of a bargain in there too, which took the spending guilt away somewhat!

Superfacialist By Una Brennan Tea Flower Deep Clean Cleansing Wash - £7.99 

I'd seen this Cleansing Wash from Superfacialist By Una Brennan doing the rounds on a few blogs over the last few weeks, and it seemed to get great reviews so I picked some up with high hopes.

Because of it's gel formula, I've been using this for my morning cleanse, so I can't comment on its ability to remove make up but it does leave my skin feeling soft, fresh, clean and bright each day. However, there is one downfall with this product - The scent. I can't put my finger on what it is, but I'm really not enjoying it. I will use it until it's gone though because it does it's job well, but I won't be repurchasing after this.

If you fancy giving it a go, the whole range is currently on offer in Boots with 1/3 off.

Origins United State Balancing Toner - £18.00

Next up came my little splurge. I'm not even sorry.

I feel like this Origins Balancing Toner is going to be my miracle product this autumn/winter. I have hellish combination skin, and as the temperature drops, despite having an oily T-Zone, I also get dry, flaky patches right between my eyes and on my nose - I know, go figure? - so when I stumbled across this magic potion claiming its ability to balance the most unruly of skins, by hydrating where needed whilst soaking up any nightmare oily patches, I was immediately sold. I wasn't even deterred by the price tag - I mean, you can't put a price on good skin, can you?

The scent is very intense and it gives a slight tingle, which is what I want from an exfoliating toner. I'm enjoying using it so far, but time will tell whether it lives up to its claims. Fingers crossed!

No 7 Beautiful Skin Eye Make Up Remover - £8.50

Boots are always giving away vouchers to save money on their own make-up and skincare range, No 7, and when I purchased my Una Brennan Cleanser, I received a £5 Off voucher for the skincare range. 

Obviously drawn in by the prospect of a bargain, I went straight over to the counter to check out its offerings. I've never actually used any No 7 skincare so was quite interested in a few things but stuck to something I knew I actually needed. I've heard good things about this Eye Make Up Remover so I picked this little bottle up. Costing only £3.50 with my voucher, I was very happy with this dinky little bottle.

Definitely worth the hype, this double layer make up remover makes light work of even the heaviest cream shadows, sweeping all traces off with zero effort. I think this may be my go-to from now on, and I'll be trying out some of No 7's skincare range in the future too.

Have you tried any of these products? Would you recommend any other products from these brands?

...LUSH-IOUS LOTIONS & POTIONS.

 

On the recommendation of a work friend, I paid a long awaited visit into Lush last week to see if they could help me fix my face, which has become my worst enemy over the past couple of weeks.

Lush Cosmetics 'Cosmetic Warrior' Fresh Face Mask - I Couldn't Not Buy It Really, Could I?

The staff in there were, as always, very knowledgeable about their products and guided me in the direction of the Cosmetic Warrior Face Mask. Targeted at breakout plagued skin, this miracle mask contains honey, spot busting tea tree oil and garlic(!) and is the exact thing I needed to win the battle against blemishes. I have used it twice now and as well as leaving my skin feeling beautifully soft, it has definitely sent my pimples packing.

NB : Don't be put off by the garlic in it. The smell is masked by the tingly tea tree oil!

Lush Cosmetics 'Yuzu & Cocoa' Bubbleroon - Cheeky!

Obviously, I couldn't leave without picking up something to turn my Sunday night bath into a wonderfully colourful and bubbly spectacle. That's where this 'Bubbleroon' comes in! Perfect to banish those Sunday night end-of-the-weekend blues, the grapefruit and bergamot oils lift your spirits while the shea butter keeps your skin feeling super soft. 

I split mine in half before crumbling under running water and got more than enough bubbles, so you could get at least 3 good soaks out of this - amazing value for money!

Lush Cosmetic 'Helping Hands' Hand Cream

The last thing I picked up while I was there was a little sample of their Helping Hands Hand Cream. In the winter my hands really suffer due to the weather and I get pretty nasty dry skin between my fingers. It's began to rear its ugly head already, so I thought that a natural cream may be better than my usual faithful Soap & Glory Hand Food which may irritate it slightly with its fragrance.

Although this cream is great for keeping the rest of my hands soft, I find there is a very fine line between just enough and too much, and it can leave your hands looking and feeling greasy if you cross that line. I've decided I'm going to pick up some Ultrabalm instead to try and target those extra dry bits.

Have you picked up any Lush products lately? Are there any you couldn't live without?

...MEADHAM KIRCHHOFF X TOPSHOP.

The latest collaboration to hit the rails in Topshop comes from the eccentric creative minds of design duo Edward Meadham and Benjamin Kirchhoff.

At first look, you are bombarded with frills, pastels, glitter - everything we are accustomed to - and it's quite a lot to take in. A little bit doll house-cum-hocus pocus-cum-Elton John-cum-Woodstock is the best way I could find to describe this attack on all the senses. But that's not to say it's a bad thing.

Entitled 'The Cherries', the collection is said to have been inspired by an imagined all girl band (think more Joan Jett & The Runaways, less Girls Aloud...) and each piece in the collection pertains to one of the four girls personalities.

You can see inspiration from many of their past collections, the most memorable of these probably being the Courtney Love inspired spectacular of SS12.

The majority of the collection is far from my personal style but I've got my eye on the navy lace trim skirt and if anyone would be so kind, the black and red Mongolian striped stole - I've been a good girl this year, I promise.

Has the collection got your attention?

...GET ON YOUR DANCING SHOES, YOU SEXY LITTLE SWINE.

ARCTIC MONKEYS

FINSBURY PARK

24TH MAY 2014

I'LL BE THERE. WILL YOU?

...NO BRAINER BARGAIN // THE BODY SHOP

The Body Shop are always impressing with their online and in store offers and giveaways and this weeks does not disappoint! 

As well as a 35% discount when you spend only £5, they are also throwing in a 'Free Mystery Gift', and who doesn't love a freebie? 

On my shopping list this week has been The Body Shop BB Cream, as the new Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation I bought has sent my skin into melt down! Luckily, I got the email to let me know about the offer yesterday before I got to the store so held off and purchased online when I got home. 

I couldn't believe my eyes when the 200ml sized tub of Shea Body Butter was added to my basket - FOR FREE! That's £13 worth of free product for those of you not seasoned in body butters - I must ask though... Why not?!

So add that to the £4.20 I saved with the 35% off and free delivery too, and you've got yourself one very happy Tal! 

Use the code MYSTERY at the checkout to bag your bargains! 

...MY FIRST GLOSSYBOX // NOVEMBER 2013

I'd been toying with the idea of a subscription beauty box for while, but was a bit unsure as to which one to commit to. I signed up to Latest In Beauty a while ago, who offer a non-subscription alternative, where you can build your own beauty box of luxury samples without commitment each month. They also offer limited edition boxes compiled by beauty world insiders, but I decided I wanted something a bit more regular, especially as I have now embarked on my adventure into blogging.

After looking at a few different options, I chose the original beauty box - Glossy Box.

 

First impressions had me more than a little excited and I couldn't wait to unwrap this little package of luxury. It feels like a real treat, lifting the lid, untying the cute pink ribbon - lovely touch by the way! - and taking that first peak inside.

 Yves Rocher France  

Hand Cream // www.yves-rocher.co.uk

You may have read my previous post about my holy grail product, Soap & Glory Hand Food, and know that I am yet to find anything that tops the dream cream for every day use, and I'm afraid, Yves Rocher, you are not the one to do so either. The main thing I disliked about this product was the scent. It smelt a bit cheap if I'm honest. I don't think I'll be putting this to use!

 Elegant Touch

Rapid Dry for Nails // Available at New Look, Superdrug and Boots

First things first, I am a self confessed nail addict, and I'm not ashamed to shout it from the roof tops. Friends mock me for spending hours at a time giving myself an at-home mani, but the reason it often takes so long is because of the time it takes for polish to dry (Ahem, Barry M - I'm looking at you.) So when I saw this ingenious creation staring me in the face it felt like all my Christmas's had come at once... Oh, how wrong I was. I tried it out that same evening and even on the most glossy of colours - Barry M's 'Navy' in fact - it seemed to take the shine out of the polish and give it a sort of scratchy looking finish. Super disappointed, but I will give it another shot - Everything deserves a second chance, right?

Vichy

Idealia Life Serum // www.boots.com 

Another product that put an ear to ear smile on my face, this beautifully silky serum has cult product written all over it. I'd used a small sample from Elle Magazine not so long ago, and couldn't wait to get this stuff on my face again - Even the scent smells like it's doing your skin good. I've been having a new foundation induced breakout this week, so my skin isn't at it's best, but after only 3 days of using this, the redness that plagues my cheeks on a regular basis had definitely subsided quite a bit. I don't think I'll be adding this to my regular routine as the £29.50 price tag is a little out of my budget, but if you can afford it, you should definitely indulge yourself. Your complexion will thank you later.

 Scholl

Dry Skin Exfoliator Skin Cream // www.boots.com 

So... Definitely not the most glamourous product in the box! But hey, lets be real here, beautiful shoes are only as pretty as the feet that are in them. That said, I am quite averse to feet - mine, yours, that womans on the PedEgg advert - and so, I haven't used this, and it will probably sit at the back of a drawer until the Summer rolls around again and I pluck up the courage to venture to the far end of my legs.

Emite Make Up

Micronized Eyeshadow - Dams // www.emitemakeup.com

This was the stand out product in the box for me - A beautiful, silky, shimmering neutral shade that applies like a dream. I've been using this daily since I discovered it nestled in the comfort of my Glossy Box and I will definitely be trying out this brands other shades in the future. It looks great worn alone for a subtle sheen and is perfect for use in the inner corners to brighten up a smoky eye. A big thumbs up from me!

Overall, I think the Glossy Box is great value for money (£10.00 per month plus £2.95 p+p - It is delivered by Hermes Couriers). There is always going to be a product or two that you may be disappointed by, but I like that it can introduce you to new brands that you may have otherwise never come across. 

I'd recommend a Glossy Box subscription, even if to just try it out for a couple of months - you can cancel your subscription at any time. 

Did you receive this months Glossy Box - What were your opinions of the products? Are there any other beauty boxes that you would recommend?

 

...PLAYING OUT // VAMPIRE WEEKEND @ THE O2.

This week I hauled my ass down to London to spend some quality lady time with my beaut of a best, Laura, and the musical offerings of the amazing Vampire Weekend.

Babe.

Needless to say, the show was fantastic, playing all my favourites, new and old. Definitely missed Oxford Comma due to an ill-timed toilet break though - I was kicking myself! 

A beautiful floral backdrop made for visual treats too.

But apart from that little mishap, and also nearly missing it altogether because we were too busy sipping cocktails in the VIP Lounge(!), the gig was everything I'd hoped it would be. The O2 is a great venue, and really has everyone's food and drink needs met under one roof. It would even be a great destination just for a bite to eat or drinks out with the girls as it's also so easy to get to.

I'm so glad I've finally gotten round to seeing this cute foursome from New York play live. Between me and you, I have a bit of a crush on Ezra Koenig, even in the Top Gun-esque khaki jumpsuit he donned for the show!

Seriously, the tastiest cocktail in the world, ever.

I personally went for separates for the occasion, wearing my staple Autumn/Winter leather skinnies from Topshop, a grey oversized jumper from Marks & Spencer's menswear collection and my metallic pointed Kurt Geiger heels, which were a HUGE sale bargain a couple of years ago. All topped off with a small splattering of gold hardware flung around anywhere that is deemed appropriate.

I would definitely recommend catching them on their next tour if you're a fan.

Were any of you at the show too?

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