Hello! Welcome to my new series, High End VS Budget! In this new style of post me and Amanda from xamandajayne.blogspot.co.uk will be selecting a type of beauty product and talking about our favourite high end and budget versions! Before you read on go follow Amanda on Bloglovin and while you're at it follow her Instagram too!
So as you might have already guessed this post is all about foundation! Foundation is something I have struggled with since forever. I'm very pale and I don't like a lot of coverage, I also have combination skin witch makes foundation shopping a nightmare! I never wear liquid foundation so for this post I'm going to run you through my favourite high end powder foundation!
Like I said previously I never really need a lot of coverage but I rarely leave the house without a dusting of MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Foundation in shade Light Plus. I'm pretty sure this is one of the lightest shades they do but I could be wrong.
This little beauty comes in at £24 which is pretty pricey but worth it. I always stock up on this when I'm at the airport so I usually managed to pay a few pounds less. This is one of those products however that I don't mind splurging on because the quality really is good.
Now the coverage isn't all that, I find it works best after concealer which is usually all I wear as a base. If you tend to want a bit more coverage I would suggest using this as finishing product after you've applied concealer, liquid foundation ect. Although this doesn't feel heavy on my skin is definitely not a thin dust like some of the cheaper alternatives.
I guess you're wondering how long this stuff usually lasts on your face. Well I never use a primer, or a setting spray (I'm all about that moisturiser life) but I would say you get a good few hours out of this before having to reapply. If anyone uses this with a primer or setting spray I would love to know if you think it makes a difference!
As always I have to talk about the packaging which isn't all that exciting here. Its very basic and looks like your typical MAC product however it does have that high end feel to it which is always good. The mirror inside is also a nice touch, however I never use it as it usually just gets coated in product, and lets be honest who can be arsed to clean that up right? While we're talking about packing, did you know if you return 6 empty packaging containers to a MAC counter you receive a free lipstick of your choice! Thats worth remembering if you shop there a lot.
So that was my favourite high end foundation, don't forget to click here to read all about Amanda's favourite budget foundation! Next time we will be talking about: Mascara!
Thanks for reading!
xxx
I cannot believe how quickly winter has come around! It doesn't seem five minutes ago that I was prancing around in a bikini on the beach but now the frosty mornings and dark evenings are here so it's about time I picked up a new coat. As I was window shopping anyway I thought I might as well round up my fave winter coats so you guys don't have to spend hours looking!
I'm absolutely loving pink and brown coats at the moment, can you tell? I'm also going a bit crazy over fluffy teddy bear coats, they just look so fuzzy and warm! I hope you guys enjoyed this little wishlist, let me know if you picked any of these gorgeous coats up!
Thanks for reading!
xxx
It's no secret that I love a good holiday. I'm always planning my next trip, but with money being quite tight it's not always easy to get away. I'm currently a student with a crappy part time job but even on my rubbish wages I still manage to jet off a few times a year so I thought I would share my tips on budget travel!
Travel in pairs - This is only helpful if you have a friend or partner who is willing to go on holiday with you but it will save a lot of money. A single person booking a double room will usually have to pay full price or at least a supplement. You can also save money by using one suitcase between two depending on how much you want to take on your trip!
Use comparison sites for flights - If you are looking for cheap flights always use a comparison site like Skyscanner. By using a site like this you can compare thousands of flights flying on different days from any airport. Just be warned that baggage usually isn't included in the price!
Use comparison sites for hotels too - You can also use comparison sites like Hotels.com or Booking.com to find the best prices on hotel rooms too. It's a good idea to check several sites and then check the hotel website aswell as sometimes it's cheaper to go direct!
Don't take a suitcase - Only going for a weekend or don't mind travelling light? Leave the suitcase at home. I've paid £30+ to take my suitcase on flights that have cost me less than £20. Hand luggage is free and you usually get around 10kg which is more than enough for a couple of outfits and a bit of makeup.
Wash and wear clothes - If you are considering leaving your case at home remember that your clothes can easily be refreshed in your hotel sink. I usually take at least one piece of clothing that can be dressed up or down and just wash it in between wears.
Sell things - I'm forever selling my things on Depop or eBay. Once I've made that money I put it away especially for my next holiday. It's a good idea to always have a holiday fund and don't touch it for any reason!
Don't eat out every meal - Once you've found your perfect budget break you might still be strapped for cash. You should always take more money than you think you will need for emergencies but don't spend it if you don't have to. When I'm on a city holiday I only eat in a restaurant for my evening meal. I always stock my room with breakfast snacks for when I wake up and grab a sandwich from the supermarket at lunch time. Don't forget fruit is usually dirt cheap to buy pretty much anywhere!
Drink the tap water - If you are staying in a country where the tap water is safe to drink then lap that stuff up! You could easily save yourself £20+ a week if you just fill up your bottle before you leave the hotel room! It's safe to drink tap water in pretty much any western European country - but when in doubt, Google it in advance.
Try not to buy holiday tat - You don't need another fridge magnet and neither does your nan. I'm guilty of always buying my parents a little gift but If I'm running out of cash I'd rather save it incase I need a few euros for an emergency!
Use a coach instead of a plane - You might have noticed I spend a lot of time moaning about certain coach companies on Twitter, well thats because I'm always on bloody long coach journeys. When I'm really strapped for cash I book a seat on a dirty old coach because how else can I get to Birmingham from Paris for £20? In all honesty I would use this as a last resort as I've had some really unpleasant experiences with long coach journeys, and I would only recommend them if it's your only option. It took me and Sean over 20 hours to get home from Paris last month when we could have flown home in around an hour, but it did save us £130 each so thats the bonus.
Clear your browsing history - When you are searching for your hotel and flights always remember to clear your browsing history - or at least your cookie cache - and use incognito mode on Chrome. If a website notices several people are looking at a certain hotel or flight the price will go up as the company can see it's in demand. This may also happen if a website detects cookies on your device.
Be flexible with dates - This might be tricky if you have to book around work or uni but try to be flexible with your dates. Booking in school holidays will always be more expensive, and booking out of season in a summer resort will also always be cheaper. Try to be flexible with the time you fly as well, flights leaving in very late at night tend to be more reasonable.
Take short trips throughout the year - If you find it hard to save for one big blowout holiday each year try saving smaller amounts for several weekend breaks. I much prefer a few city breaks spread out over the year to one super luxurious holiday.
So these are my suggestions on travelling on a budget. I'm no money saving expert but these little tips help me jet off every few months so they can't be too bad. If you have any tips I'd love to hear them!
Travel in pairs - This is only helpful if you have a friend or partner who is willing to go on holiday with you but it will save a lot of money. A single person booking a double room will usually have to pay full price or at least a supplement. You can also save money by using one suitcase between two depending on how much you want to take on your trip!
Use comparison sites for flights - If you are looking for cheap flights always use a comparison site like Skyscanner. By using a site like this you can compare thousands of flights flying on different days from any airport. Just be warned that baggage usually isn't included in the price!
Use comparison sites for hotels too - You can also use comparison sites like Hotels.com or Booking.com to find the best prices on hotel rooms too. It's a good idea to check several sites and then check the hotel website aswell as sometimes it's cheaper to go direct!
Don't take a suitcase - Only going for a weekend or don't mind travelling light? Leave the suitcase at home. I've paid £30+ to take my suitcase on flights that have cost me less than £20. Hand luggage is free and you usually get around 10kg which is more than enough for a couple of outfits and a bit of makeup.
Wash and wear clothes - If you are considering leaving your case at home remember that your clothes can easily be refreshed in your hotel sink. I usually take at least one piece of clothing that can be dressed up or down and just wash it in between wears.
Sell things - I'm forever selling my things on Depop or eBay. Once I've made that money I put it away especially for my next holiday. It's a good idea to always have a holiday fund and don't touch it for any reason!
Don't eat out every meal - Once you've found your perfect budget break you might still be strapped for cash. You should always take more money than you think you will need for emergencies but don't spend it if you don't have to. When I'm on a city holiday I only eat in a restaurant for my evening meal. I always stock my room with breakfast snacks for when I wake up and grab a sandwich from the supermarket at lunch time. Don't forget fruit is usually dirt cheap to buy pretty much anywhere!
Drink the tap water - If you are staying in a country where the tap water is safe to drink then lap that stuff up! You could easily save yourself £20+ a week if you just fill up your bottle before you leave the hotel room! It's safe to drink tap water in pretty much any western European country - but when in doubt, Google it in advance.
Try not to buy holiday tat - You don't need another fridge magnet and neither does your nan. I'm guilty of always buying my parents a little gift but If I'm running out of cash I'd rather save it incase I need a few euros for an emergency!
Use a coach instead of a plane - You might have noticed I spend a lot of time moaning about certain coach companies on Twitter, well thats because I'm always on bloody long coach journeys. When I'm really strapped for cash I book a seat on a dirty old coach because how else can I get to Birmingham from Paris for £20? In all honesty I would use this as a last resort as I've had some really unpleasant experiences with long coach journeys, and I would only recommend them if it's your only option. It took me and Sean over 20 hours to get home from Paris last month when we could have flown home in around an hour, but it did save us £130 each so thats the bonus.
Clear your browsing history - When you are searching for your hotel and flights always remember to clear your browsing history - or at least your cookie cache - and use incognito mode on Chrome. If a website notices several people are looking at a certain hotel or flight the price will go up as the company can see it's in demand. This may also happen if a website detects cookies on your device.
Be flexible with dates - This might be tricky if you have to book around work or uni but try to be flexible with your dates. Booking in school holidays will always be more expensive, and booking out of season in a summer resort will also always be cheaper. Try to be flexible with the time you fly as well, flights leaving in very late at night tend to be more reasonable.
Take short trips throughout the year - If you find it hard to save for one big blowout holiday each year try saving smaller amounts for several weekend breaks. I much prefer a few city breaks spread out over the year to one super luxurious holiday.
So these are my suggestions on travelling on a budget. I'm no money saving expert but these little tips help me jet off every few months so they can't be too bad. If you have any tips I'd love to hear them!
Thanks for reading!
xxx
So you might have seen last month's Pokemon inspired makeup, well I thought it was about time I did another and this time it's Jigglypuff! This little cutie is another one of my favourite Pokemon so I was really excited to create this look! I'd love to hear which Pokemon you'd like to see next!
So I started this look by applying the gorgeous pink shade; Harajuku from the Urban Decay Gwen Steffani Palette. I haven't really had much chance to use this shade as its a little bit "out there" for me, but then again so is the next shade I used. I then added the turquoise shade; Heads Will Roll from the Alice in Wonderland Palette to my outer corners. I blended this like mad but looking back at it now I could have tried a bit harder.
After that I took out my Heavy Metal Eyeliner - also from Urban Decay and dabbed this all over my eyelids. I hardly ever use this product either, which is such a shame as I absolutely love having glittery lids! Once I had eyeshadow on my eyelids I then went on to repeat everything underneath my lower lashes.
I then turned to my trusty Benefit Roller Lash Mascara and added coat after coat until I was happy with the length and volume of my lashes. Before I apply mascara I always dab a little bit of moisturizer onto my lashes to make everything go smoother. Does anyone know of any specialised eyelash cream? If anything like that even exists I would love to know!
After my mascara was applied I then drew on my eyeliner. For this I used the Kat Von D Ink liner. I might have gone a bit mad with this looking back now, I don't usually paint it on that thick! This little beauty has been a favourite of mine for months now, and its still going strong since the day I bought it way back in April! It might be a little pricey at €20 but it is easily the best eyeliner I've ever used.
And thats the finished look! I'm not going to bother going into what products I've used on the rest of my face as thats the same as always. I'd really love to know what you think of this look and what Pokemon you'd like to see me create next!
Thanks for reading!
xxx
Hi guys! So I'm sure if you follow me on Twitter you'll have seen this hashtag a lot over the last few days but if you haven't I'll give you a little rundown.
At the end of May I went to Rhodes with my family. Whilst taking some photographs just outside the village of Lindos I found a camera bag with an SD card inside. I took it home in hopes to find the owner but I forgot all about until earlier this week when I was tidying my room.
The card contains several holiday photos of a couple and their friends so I'd love to get it back to them. The main bit of information I can gather is that the man in the photographs is called Benoit as thats the name on the birthday cake in one of the pictures. There are also some videos on the card where the couple appear to be speaking French although I'm no expert! Like I said I would really love to send this back to them as I'm sure they would like to be reunited with their holiday photos!
There is a way you can help! I have tweeted about this a lot but more people still need to see it, I'd be so grateful if you guys could retweet my tweets or even start your own using #FindBenoit.
At the end of May I went to Rhodes with my family. Whilst taking some photographs just outside the village of Lindos I found a camera bag with an SD card inside. I took it home in hopes to find the owner but I forgot all about until earlier this week when I was tidying my room.
The card contains several holiday photos of a couple and their friends so I'd love to get it back to them. The main bit of information I can gather is that the man in the photographs is called Benoit as thats the name on the birthday cake in one of the pictures. There are also some videos on the card where the couple appear to be speaking French although I'm no expert! Like I said I would really love to send this back to them as I'm sure they would like to be reunited with their holiday photos!
There is a way you can help! I have tweeted about this a lot but more people still need to see it, I'd be so grateful if you guys could retweet my tweets or even start your own using #FindBenoit.
Thanks so much!
xxx
The more I read and blog about beauty, the more I realise what a horrendous beauty blogger I am. I might put on a good show online but in my real life I struggle to stick to routines and the thought of spending £20+ on an eyeliner makes me a little bit faint. Now I know I'm not alone here and I thought it would be fun to list my confessions of a bad beauty blogger.
1. I've only worn fake eyelashes once in my life.
2. If my hair is in a ponytail or bun, chances are that I haven't brushed it.
3. I don't always take my makeup off before I go to sleep.
4. I used to drench my face in toner overnight just because the one I had smelt like peaches. I still have no idea what it actually does.
5. I'm too tired/ lazy to stick to a skincare regime.
6. Sometimes I buy products just to blog about them and then forget I ever bought them.
7. I wash my hair like twice a week tops.
8. I have been known to wear the same mascara for 2 days.
9. Sometimes I feel like my hair is more dry shampoo than hair.
10. Spending more than £30 on one beauty product makes me feel physicaly unwell.
11. I get cleanser in my eyes more than I would like to admit.
12. I pick the mascara off my eyelids which usually results in me ripping quite a few lashes out.
13. I've only had my eyebrows threaded twice and I cried like a baby both times.
14. I constantly pick and bite my nails so my finger tips are almost always sore.
15. I absolutely love popping spots, whether my own or someone else's.
Last week I popped over to Grand Central Station in Birmingham City centre to attend a lovely event hosted by The White Company and Style Birmingham. The White Company were showcasing their latest collections of fashion and home wear for Autumn/ Winter 2016.
As well as being treated to bubbly and nibbles we were invited to listen to a wonderful talk by their clothing director Barbara Horspool. Barbara walked us through some of the new clothing range, showing us how she would style them and giving us a detailed run down of the White Company's beginning and values. By the end of the talk I was pretty much sold on quite a few pieces, especially a gorgeous sheepskin coat which unfortunately retails at £995 and is completely over my student winter coat budget.
After the talk I wandered around the store eyeing up some gorgeous pieces of homeware and drawing up my imaginary shopping list. Although The White Company pride themselves on their good quality products without the designer prices I do feel like they are still a little out of reach for many people.
One thing however I feel is more on the affordable side is their huge range of candles. Although these can cost up to £125 they start at just £6. My favourite candle; The Lime & Bay Signature candle, which I was told was a new product retails at £20 and bursts with citrus and floral notes.
I had a such lovely evening and I'm sure I will be back to pick up a handful of candles in the near future! If you have any recommendations please feel free to leave them in the comments!
Thanks for reading!
xxx
So summer is finally over and its time to start stocking up on coats and jumpers. I've never been a fan of cold weather, wrapping up warm doesn't appeal to me at all, but I've decided to take it all in my stride this year.
Over the next coulple of months I want to start working on a kind of capsule wardrobe. I'm really bored of having clothes I like induvidually but that don't go with anything else. This wishlist has a colour theme of black/ white/ grey and pink because these are the colours I really want to gravitate to over the winter months.
Do you think you could stick to just wearing certain colours?
Thanks for reading!
As you might know, me and Sean popped off to Dublin for a few days at the start of August. If you missed my ramblings about day 1 + 2 you can read that here. Todays post is all about what we got up to days 3 + 4!
Day 3 - Our Third day in lovely Dublin was actually my 22nd Birthday! We had tickets booked for a tour around the Guinness factory, and even though I can't stand the stuff I was pretty excited! I was probably more excited for Sean as he drinks this vile liquid on the regular. We hopped on the bus and were ready to learn all about Guinness before midday.
The factory is actually quite interesting but not that different to other factories we'd been to before. It's basically the same as the Heineken factory in Amsterdam only its obviously about making Guinness, not Heineken. The best part was definitely the Gravity Bar right at the top the factory which gives a gorgeous 360 degree view of Dublin, even on a rainy day. I have this thing with views and heights; when I look over a city, or a beautiful view I get this funny feeling in my tummy and I just feel pure happiness. It's so strange to describe but the feeling I get when I'm looking down at the world below me is the closest I've ever got to understanding what life's all about. I don't want to get all deep here but in those moments I kind of just know that I'm meant to travel and see as much of this world as I can.
The factory is actually quite interesting but not that different to other factories we'd been to before. It's basically the same as the Heineken factory in Amsterdam only its obviously about making Guinness, not Heineken. The best part was definitely the Gravity Bar right at the top the factory which gives a gorgeous 360 degree view of Dublin, even on a rainy day. I have this thing with views and heights; when I look over a city, or a beautiful view I get this funny feeling in my tummy and I just feel pure happiness. It's so strange to describe but the feeling I get when I'm looking down at the world below me is the closest I've ever got to understanding what life's all about. I don't want to get all deep here but in those moments I kind of just know that I'm meant to travel and see as much of this world as I can.
After leaving the Guinness factory we headed back to the hotel early as we had missed one of the tours we were meant to be on, and we had a little bit of time to relax before getting ready for our final night in Dublin.
Because it was my birthday we decided to eat at the Hard Rock, and as usual we had an amazing meal. Sean told the waitress it was my birthday while I was in the toilet and not long after I came back I was presented with a huge Chocolate Sundae and prompted to stand on a chair so everyone could sing happy birthday to me. There is a really cringe video of the whole thing but I don't want to subject you guys to that. Once we had finished our meals we tried to get another cocktail from the bar but they were already closed. I swear this Hard Rock closes earlier than any other Hard Rock I've ever been to before! We then went back to one of the pubs we drank in the previous night for one last pint in gorgeous Dublin City.
Because it was my birthday we decided to eat at the Hard Rock, and as usual we had an amazing meal. Sean told the waitress it was my birthday while I was in the toilet and not long after I came back I was presented with a huge Chocolate Sundae and prompted to stand on a chair so everyone could sing happy birthday to me. There is a really cringe video of the whole thing but I don't want to subject you guys to that. Once we had finished our meals we tried to get another cocktail from the bar but they were already closed. I swear this Hard Rock closes earlier than any other Hard Rock I've ever been to before! We then went back to one of the pubs we drank in the previous night for one last pint in gorgeous Dublin City.
Day 4 - Our final day was quite emotional. We checked out of the hotel and went out to catch our final tour. We had a little bit of time to kill beforehand so I had a quick look around Pennys (Primark in the UK) and Sean obviously headed for the nearest book shop. I came away with the most gorgeous top for €13 which I will include in an OOTD soon I promise. We then jumped on the bus up to Glasnevin Cemetery for a slightly morbid tour. For just a couple of euros you are taken around the graves of some of Ireland's most famous residents. I would really recommend this tour after you've visited Kilmainham Gaol as you can see where a few of the people involved in the Easter Rising are buried. Grace Plunkett, who I mentioned in the last post is actually buried here, although sadly not with her husband. Other notable people who are buried here include, Eamon de Valera, Michael Collins, Charles Stewart Parnell and of course Daniel O'Connel who is buried beneath the huge tower. Guests are encouraged to rub his coffin for good luck but I passed on that as it was a bit too weird for me.
Once our tour was finished it was time to head back to the hotel to pick up our bags for the airport. Even though we were flying to Paris I was still really sad to leave this city and both Sean and I have vowed to return as soon as possible. We didn't make it to the airport without issues though, as our coach drove straight past us and our horrible taxi driver tried to completely overcharge us but those are stories for another time!
All in all I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Ireland and writing this post up has brought back so many good memories! I really want to get back there soon and I'd love to explore more of this beautiful country!
Thanks for reading!
xxx
I think most people have lost intrest in Pokemon Go now but to be honest the whole thing has brought back so many childhood memories so I'll always be thankful for that. I too have stopped playing it recently as I don't fancy going over my data for a second time, but with this new passion for Pokemon that has emerged I wanted to do something Pokemon themed on the blog.
Since the day I received a special shiny Flareon Pokemon card she has been my favourite. One of three possible evolutions of an Eevie, Flareon was the best as far as I was concerned. When I decided I wanted to try and create some makeup looks based on Pokemon I knew she had to be first, so here's how I made this look...
As always I start with my eyeshadow first. I applied my new Benefit Air Patrol eyeshadow primer to both lids (review up soon!). Then taking the shade 1987 from the Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Pallet I dusted it over the inner half of my eyelid. I then took the gorgeous orange shade Paradox from the Urban Decay Alice in Wonderland pallet and applied it to the outer half of my eyelid. Since doing this look I would have preferred to have put orange on the inner, gold in the middle and orange again on the outer corner so I'll try that again next time.
Once I was happy with how vivid the colours were I tidied the eyeshadow up a bit and prepped my lashes for mascara. I always dab a small amount of moisturiser to my lashes before I add mascara as I feel like it keeps them looking healthy and it also helps to apply my mascara evenly. The mascara I've used for this look is my old trusty Roller Lash which I've talked about none stop since its release early last year.
After coating my top lashes I then applied more gold eyeshadow underneath my lower lash line with the smallest dash on orange just in the outer corners. Then using my new favourite eyeliner the Kat Von Dee Ink Liner I drew on my everyday flicks. After doing this I always apply mascara to my lower lashes and again on my upper lashes as I need all the help I can get in that department! An optional extra for this look is adding a dusting of highlighter above the eyeshadow, the one I've used here is from MAC in shade Lightscapade.
And thats all there is too this look! Its not very complicated but then again I don't have the time or skills to do anything too fancy! I've love to know what you think about this Pokemon inspired makeup!
Thanks for reading!
xxx
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