A beauty, style & lifestyle blog.
So this one has been a long time coming! Back in July (has it really been that long!?) I spent a week in California and took full advantage of the U.S. beauty shopping situation. From practically living in Sephora to the brands that we just can't get on this side of the pond I certainly did my bit for the economy! Considering I bought an almost obscene amount I thought I'd wait a while to show you what I picked up so I had a proper chance to test everything out and give you my thoughts, little did I know that we'd end up with a twenty-six minute beauty haul though.. oops!
What's In My Bag videos are not only my favourite to watch but also to film and this one actually marks the fifth instalment of rummaging around in the depths of my handbag! I try to make one every time a new bag comes in to my life, and this thing of beauty - a.k.a. the Blue Fleet Tote from Whistles, is certainly one of my favourites to date. You know the drill by now, I go through the contents of my bag from the useful (purse, phone charger, sunglasses) to the not so necessary (more lip products than I can count on one hand..) and in the process wonder how on earth my arm hasn't fallen off from carrying around so much on a daily basis!
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There's something about September.. As soon as we get towards the end of the month I start itching to pull the thick knit jumpers out of storage, begin wondering the aisles of Boots in search of berry toned lip products and even notice myself checking coffee shop menus for the festive specials. In my eyes the easiest way to acknowledge a seasonal change though is nail colour, and with pastels and brights set aside, it's finally time for the Autumn shades to make a comeback.
If for some reason I was told I could only ever wear a single nail polish for the rest of my life (dramatic statement, I know) there's no doubt it would have to be Essie Sole Mate. There's just something about this rich wine toned burgundy that I can never get enough of. It goes with everything, looks classic and is also a near on exact dupe for the coolest nail polish in town - Chanel Rouge Noir, although with considerably better lasting power and for only half the price - you're welcome.
Honourable mentions also have to go out to Bordeaux, another Essie masterpiece and Clinique's Black Honey - two more burgundies I know I'll be pulling out in the weeks to come, but for now, Sole Mate has my heart!
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Lunch with my lovely friend Nicola usually means two things: 1) there will be cake involved and 2) we're guaranteed to sit and talk about beauty products for a good three or four hours. Perfect recipe for an afternoon if you ask me. After making a date to visit our local Vintage Tea Room only to turn up and find it closed we headed for the fail safe Tenth Hole in Southsea which I've come to regard as an actual cake Heaven - they have everything. On this occasion though the Mars Bar Cheesecake wasn't on the cards and we went for the classic scones with jam and cream which were so tasty (and huge, might I add) we were full to the brim for the rest of the day.
I was also treated to a peek inside a rather tempting looking black and white bag (we all know what that means!) at the new Glam Glow Powermud Dualcleanse Treatment which is still yet to reach our side of the pond - Nicola knows all the right people. I'm a big fan of the original Glamglow Youthmud mask which can always be relied on to save my skin from the brink when nothing else works and I have to say I'm rather intrigued by the latest addition to the Glamglow range. I see a Sephora order on the horizon!
The question of course though.. is it cream then jam, or jam then cream? I'm personally a fan of the cream then jam scenario - doesn't it just turn out prettier that way? This is definitely one I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on!
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Share Since the purchase of it's travel size back in October my love for Oribe's cult Dry Texturising Spray has been growing at an alarming rate. I promised myself I would never shell out for the full size, priced at a whopping £38 when the miniature alone is £18. And yet here it is, sitting smugly on my dressing table after a frenzied episode on the Space NK site which I'm sure you'll be hearing more about soon.
I had a short fling with the Bumble & Bumble Dryspun Finish before giving into the Oribe hype - hailed as a 'purse friendly alternative' (although gram for gram the latter actually comes out cheaper) it has the same premise but I find it gives a more of a 'fluffy' effect - maybe not the best for those with frizz prone locks. Oribe's offering really is unmatched in it's ability to provide texture, volume and the perfect undressed look to your hair without any stickiness or extra weight. Lets just hope this can lasts at least a year (or two) to justify the cost, although my inner big hair cravings are telling me it probably won't!
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Oh hello January! A quick apology for being MIA for a week or two - I've been throughly enjoying the novelty of my first real festive break (those who have also worked in retail will know exactly where I'm coming from) and while chowing down on all the calorie laden food I could get my hands on, beauty has taken a backseat and certainly not for the better.
A combination of excessive chocolate consumption, staying up to catch that last Christmas movie showing until 2am and an onslaught of alcohol sometime in the very early hours of January 1st has caused my skin to throw quite the hissy fit. Now, I wont be making any life changing resolutions or hopping to the gym everyday as we all know it just wont stick, but I've decided to start this year off the right way with a few simple detoxifying steps.
1. Drink more water: No doubt this tops most peoples lists of new years promises and the benefits are staggering for something so simple. Clear skin, boosted energy levels (don't we all need that right now) and a general ridding of toxins are just a few of the many advantaged to be gained from glugging down those two litres a day. I find filling up a jug of water to keep in the fridge the best way to stay on top of your daily water consumption.
2. Body Brushing: Again, another easy peasy sept that takes just a minute pre-shower and comes with a host of body bonuses. Brushing towards the heart in long strokes not only exfoliates skin but also helps with lymphatic drainage - bye bye pesky cellulite, and is the perfect energising start to the day.
3. Mask Up: Masks are definitely one of my favourite beauty products for a quick and easy pamper, but sticking to them consistently for a few weeks should rid my skin of all those pesky chocolate induced blemishes. Glam Glow has been a favourite of mine for a while and this stuff is heavy duty. The mud based mask draws out impurities in minutes and once dry, a splash of water transforms it into an exfoliator. Radiance boosting and deep pore cleansing in one - I'll be keeping to this twice a week until my skin's back to normal.
We're now fully immersed a new year and what better way to start things off here at I Covet Thee than a round up of all things beauty from last twelve months. I've gone through the archives to bring you the best of Make Up, Skincare, Hair products and more throughout 2013 and bare with me because this is a meaty one - no stone has been left unturned! I've split this mammoth video into two so grab a cup of tea - and a biscuit if your NY food-related resolutions have wavered by now, and enjoy!
Bioderma Sensibio H20 | Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm | Clarins Gentle Exfoliating Toner | Bioderma Hydrabio Gentle Exfoliating Cream | Hydraluron Moisture Boost | Origins GinZing Moisturiser | Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream | Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream | Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defence SPF 50 | Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask | NUXE Reve de Meil | Bumble & Bumble Surf Shampoo | and Conditioner | Charles Worthington Moisture Seal Rescue Balm | Moroccanoil | Oribe Maximista Thickening Spray | Batiste Classic | Enrapture Extremity Heated Rollers | Tangle Teezer | Denman Backcomb Brush | Diptyque Philosykos eau de Toilette | Jo Malone Peony & Blush Suede Cologne | This Works Deep Sleep Shower Gel | Soap and Glory Pulp Friction | Vaseline Spray & Go Body Moisturiser | Soap and Glory Smoothie Star Body Buttercream
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After spending my Boxing Day afternoon scrolling through hundreds of pages of sales - pyjama clad and Terry's Chocolate Orange in hand of course, I've come up with a list of my favourite tried and tested beauty bargains just for you.
Feel Unique know how to do a sale and you'll find a host of well know, well loved brands with great discounts. Cult favourites such as the Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm and the Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask - my personal favourite for sore Winter skin, both come in at a much lower price than you're ever likely to find them. There are also full brand discounts on premium houses such as Guerlain and YSL - my picks including the Terracotta Light Sheer Bronzing Powder and the Rouge Pur Couture Vernis À Lèvres Glossy Stains which although may only have a few pounds off are still very hard to say no to.
If you're looking to invest a little more and 2014 has been earmarked as the year you're getting into skincare the Clarisonic Mia 2 has a whopping 20% off - a considerable amount for a higher priced product and a system I would whole heartedly recommend to those wanting something that little bit special for their skin.
Space NK is always the place to go for harder to find luxury brands and they've made considerable reductions on a handful of Diptyque fragrances including my favourite, Philisykos. There's also a beautiful selection of Laura Mercier Votive Candles bundled together in one pretty package for half the usual price. All four are gourmande scents from Fresh Fig to Crème Brûlée - good enough to eat!
Most of the sales I've come across have featured Aromatherapy Associates - definitely a brand worth checking out for their Bath and Shower Oils alone, but it's Beauty Bay I've found to be offering up the best price with their Relax Deep coming in at nearly £10 less than it's original price.
Beauty Expert have a host of well discounted haircare finds including my new favourite styling product of the moment, the Kérastase Boucles d'Art Mousse and the majority of the Redken Shampoo and Conditioner Duos, led by the unparalleled All Soft range - perfect for post-holiday season hydration.
Asos have a much smaller selection of sale items in the beauty category but there are quite a few gems to be found, including O.P.I's Christmas 2013 Collection which boasts possibly the chunkiest silver glitter I've ever laid my eyes on in the form of I Snow You Love Me that should keep you and your nails in a festive mood for weeks to come.
Have you bagged yourself any sale bargains today?
01. The amazing window display in Choccywoccydoodah, Brighton.. | 02. .. and a slice of their Chocolate Truffle cake that was bigger than my head | 03. First viewing of the Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette. B-E-A-Utiful. | 04. Snuggling up with the ultimate Christmas film | 05. A new shorter 'do | 06. Pret's Superfood Salad aka, Christmas shopping fuel | 07. Beautiful shopping centre decorations | 08. A spontaneous midnight baking session that proved rather successful.
Product of the Week: It was only at the beginning of the week I sifted through my stash of red lipsticks for the ultimate edit but now there's a new kid on the block in the form of the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Red Square; a rich orange toned hue (see me sporting it here) and definitely my kind of colour. Not only do these pencils have incredible staying power, NARS really couldn't have chosen a better name as the word 'velvet' sums up the texture to a tee. I need more.
Should Have Gone Back to Purchase: The By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Brown Perfection. After a good swatch session in Space NK this creamy textured eye crayon which a rich chocolate brown hue proved not only hard to get off my hand but out of my head as well.
Watch of the Week: Once again I'll be shamelessly plugging this weeks edition of Vlogmas (see Part Three here or below) but there have been a host of festive themed videos popping up in my subscription box that I can't get enough of, including Lily's Cosy Winter Bedtime Routine, Sammi's Mince Pie Recipe and Suzie's Christmas Edition Flat Tour. Note: these go excellently with a cup of tea and a warm blanket.
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