e.l.f. Cosmetic Haul | Review

For those of you who don't know about e.l.f., they are a a brand with 'high quality items at low, affordable prices'. I've heard about this brand for a while, but never got round to ordering anything until now. Luckily I was able to get quite a big discount off my items (nearly 50%!) after someone posted a code on Facebook. If you sign up to their newsletter they sometimes send promotions too!

Contouring Blush & Bronzer Cream - St. Lucia

The first thing I ordered was the contouring blush & bronzer cream in St. Lucia priced at £3.75. I'm not sure why I ordered the cream, as I was ideally looking for a powder (that'll teach me for purchasing on a whim!). They do in fact have the contouring set in a powder.

The contour colours are very creamy and pigmented. A little will go a long way with this product and I found it easy to blend. However, this product is probably a little too dark for my skin so next time I would see if there is a lighter colour.

Studio Contour Brush

I also purchased a Studio contour brush, this was priced at £3.75.

For the price I think this brush is amazing. I would even compare it to my higher priced brushes. It does its job well and has soft bristles. I will definitely be purchasing more of their brushes.

Studio Matte Lip Colour - Coral

I've heard quite a few good reviews about their matte lip colour, so I got the Studio matte lip colour in Coral which was £3.75.

The end colour of the stick looks a lot pinker than the actual product and the stick looks darker... This shade is lighter than my natural lip colour. It looks a lot darker on the pictures than it is on the lips. I would probably wear this when I wear toned down make-up. It has a nice matte finish and I will be buying more of these in different colours.

Studio Blush - Candid Coral

I've been looking for a new blush so I purchased the Studio blush in Candid Coral after reading about it in another bloggers review! This was £3.75.
This blush has quite a bit of shimmer in it. I really like the colour though and think it compliments my skin tone well.

Studio Lip Primer & Plumper

I've never really tried a lip primer or plumper before, so this caught my eye on their website. It is the Studio lip primer & plumper which was £3.75.

If you don't like cinnamon, this product will not be for you. The plumper has a very distinct cinnamon smell. It tingles your lips very slightly but I can't say I felt them getting plumper.. I was slightly disappointed with the primer as I don't think it blended well with the matte lip colour and had to wipe most of it off. It sort of looks like a concealer and has quite a thick consistency. I will probably only use this for the plumper.

Studio Makeup Mist & Set

Lastly, I ordered the Studio makeup mist & set as usually I normally spritz a bit of hairspray (anyone else do this? haha) to keep the makeup in place, but obviously this isn't meant for your face and the results can make your face feel a bit stiff. This was also £3.75.
This spray comes out quite powerful, so make sure you spray it quite far away or your face will be drenched. It sort of reminds me of one of those cooling sprays as it leaves a watery sheen over your face for a few minutes. I suppose this is healthier for my skin than the hairspray, so I will be giving this another try. I can't say I saw any changes in how my makeup looked, but being alcohol free I will be using it as a mist before application.

Altogether my order would have come to £22.50, but I got it for £12.50 with free delivery! - Bargain! I would recommend this brand if you are looking for a cheap alternative, and because it's so cheap it's good to experiment with. 

Have you tried any e.l.f. products? 

January Sales Haul | Zara, H&M, New Look, Boots

After an unsuccessful late trip to the boxing day sales the other day, I thought i'd brave out into the cold and give it another go! Thankfully I was slightly luckier today. Here are the items I picked up:

Boots

Boots - Barry M Nail Polish - Textured Nail Effect in Majesty (Left) & Matte Nail Paint in Espresso (Right)  - £3.99 each but there was an offer 'Buy 1 get 1 half price'

I've been looking for the matte nail paint in Espresso for a while now as it's sold out in quite a few shops. Luckily I came across it in Boots and there was an offer on buy one get one half price. So I also picked up a pretty, glittery gold colour which I think would really compliment the matte.

H&M

H&M - Black Blouse - £14.99

I fell in love with this top when I saw it. I think it would look great on a night out with a statement necklace 

H&M - Black Cardigan - £7.99

I would be lost without my black cardigans! I think they're ideal to put in your bag and throw on when it gets a bit colder! The material is light and breathable and it goes with almost every outfit!

H&M - Black Leather Skirt - £14.99

Being quite a rock chick at heart, it's only natural I picked up this skirt. I love the figure hugging fit.

New Look

New Look - Cream Bow Cami - £12.99 £6

This was reduced from £12.99 to £6. I thought this top was so cute with the little bows! I got this especially for my holidays as it's a really light, floaty material

New Look - Black Polo Neck - £9.99 £6

This was reduced from £9.99 to £6. Even though it's simple I think polo necks are easy to dress up and a great wardrobe must-have!

New Look - Black Studded Belt - £3.99 £1.50

This was reduced from £3.99 to £1.50. I love anything studs and surprisingly I don't have a studded belt! So for £1.50 I couldn't really resist!

Zara

Zara - Baby Pink Sweater - £19.99

I absolutely loved this colour and as pastels are in this upcoming season it's right on trend!

 

Zara - Black & White Bag - £25.99 £19.99

I've been needing a new bag for ages and this caught my eye in Zara. It was reduced from £25.99 to £19.99

Can you tell I love black? ;) 

Mini December Haul | Primark, Lush, New Look, Superdrug

Today I went late sale shopping (probably not the best of ideas as everything was pretty much gone!), but I managed to pick up a few things, even though some of it wasn't reduced.

Primark 'extreme stiletto' heels - £10

I've been looking for a pair like this for a while now, and for £10 I couldn't really walk away from them! They're a perfect addition to any dress or keep it casual with a pair of jeans.

Primark 'Lace Up Desert B' Boots - £8 £4

I'm guilty of buying the Primark simple pumps (usually a couple of £) as they're normally a quick throw on shoe and I don't really mind if they get dirty! However, I saw these and thought they looked a bit more sturdy than the plimsoll pumps and a bit more fashionable! They were reduced from £8 to £4. 

Superdrug Max Factor Glossfinity in 50 Candy Rose - £5.99 (3 for 2)

I can't really go shopping and not come back with a new nail polish, especially as in Superdrug they always have the 3 for 2 offer on. Most nail polishes tend to go dull after a few days, so I thought i'd try out their new range. 

Lush Grease Lightning - £5.95

I've heard some good reviews about this product, so I picked one up to try myself! It's made of tea tree and witch hazel, the perfect spot fighting ingredients. The lady at the counter says it works miracles... so we shall soon see! 

Superdrug Carmex Lip Balm - £2

My bag would not be seen without one! They last for ages and feel amazing on your lips. When you first put it on your lips it gives a tingling sensation. Perfect for keeping your lips hydrated in these cold months.

Primark Lounge Bottoms - £6 £3

I love the cute reindeer print on these Christmas pajama bottoms! These were reduced from £6 to £3. They had quite a few left and there was also another print. I'm usually an 8-10, but I picked up an 10-12 as the only other size was 6-8. I'm not sure, but have Primark changed their sizing? 

New Look 'Black Croc Cosmetic Bag' - £12.99 £6

My make-up collection is growing all the time and my other make-up bag is no longer any use. This was reduced from £12.99. 

Sorry for the terrible picture/light quality! I have to make do with taking them on my iPhone at the moment as my camera is elsewhere!

Have you been shopping lately? Did you pick up anything in the sales?