Sunday 25 November 2012

Long-awaited haul.....(Lush, Asos, Kik and DM)

This haul is quite late. I bought or have been given these things by people a long time ago. But, better late than never?! I want to share my little treasures with you.

I'll start with Lush!


You can buy Lush products in their stores or order them online. I got them from one of their stores but didn't buy them by myself. They were a present from Mr.Just Right.
I know you want to see what is inside of the bag, so....


and since you can't see everything, let's take them out...


I got two of the their fresh face masks, Ayesha and Love Lettuce (in Croatia you get 75 grams of product for 59 kunas which is about 5.90 GBP, 8.30 Euros, $11), Mrs. Whippy bubble bar (not sure for the price because it was a gift and I can't find it on Croatian site but I guess it was around 45 kunas for a "bar", about $8, 4.50 GBP, 7 Euros) and a Dragon's Egg bath bomb (44 kunas, about 4.40 GBP, $8, 6.20 Euros).


Their fresh face masks I adore. I already wrote a review on Love Lettuce. If you want to read it, click here. Bubble bars can go both ways, meaning that they can be incredible or a complete waste of money. Let's face it. Lush products are expensive, so I always expect the best. Bath bombs I'm not too crazy about because I miss bubbles when taking a bath, but sometimes I buy them because they look amazing. Don't we all?


Don't worry. These were gifts and that is why I love them a bit more, but when I will review them, I will forget that and be completely honest.
And they weren't given to me by Lush, they were a present from my dearest!

And now I little bit of jewelry...


I had a coupon for Asos and loved these earrings. Asos Mini Gem Flower Drop Earrings.


I didn't realize when I bought them but they are a clip on earrings (claw style setting) which can be great if costume jewelry earrings, like these are heavy. These aren't heavy but I like that they are clip on. That is not something you worry about when you are young but I don't like when I see too stretched earlobe.


Asos always ships their jewelry very well packed and secured.


If you want to see some better pictures of these earrings, here's their Asos link.


They are currently on clearance for 10.42 GBP but I bought them for less. They costed me 7.50 GBP. Shipping is free.

During a visit to a mall in Zagreb, I found these cute and trendy bracelets. They will cost you a lot more if you choose to buy a designer piece like Michael Kors. I wasn't prepared to spend much money so I decided to get these which I found in KIK.


I bought golden,


silver


and gunmetal version.


These are from Verona Poth's collection but I saw many more in different colors by the register. They were all priced the same, 17.90 kunas (about 1.80 GBP, $3.25, 2.50 Euros). In my opinion that was a great price. I saw similar bracelets in New Look but they were much more and weren't better in any way. It was 59 kunas for a bracelet, which is abou 5.90 GBP, 8 Euros, $11.
When I was buying mine at KIK, a girl was there shopping with her mother and she was whining that they were rough and uncomfortable but they really aren't.
They can be narrow or wide, very easy to manage.


They are a lot shinier than they seem on my pictures. That is why I put a lot photos of them to try and show you how they are made.
I like them a lot and wear them often alone or with my watch. I have them for more than a month and they haven't changed their colour, all the stones are still in place and I recommend them.

And the last jewelry piece that I bought were these earrings that I found in DM.


They are two toned, golden and silver earring. They had just silver ones but I liked these better.

you can see better how shiny they are with flash
They are smooth in the back.


In the front they are really shiny although they don't have any stones. It is just the way they were processed.


They don't contain nickel. You can find them in DM for 39,90 kunas (about 4 GBP, 5.20 Euros, $7). I got them for 34 kunas with a coupon.

And that is it for my haul. What have you bought?

Tell me....

Love, beautyandbrains007




Monday 5 November 2012

My beauty favorites for October


October came gently and quietly. In Croatia, it gave us so many happy days filled with sunshine. THANK you for that, October... I will miss you but I am planning to hang around with you next year. Until then, GOODBYE.

This is my first favorites post. I've included products that are my every day must haves and some newly discovered treasures (at least for me). I hope you will enjoy them and here they are:


Or, when all masks are down.......


Since it is a bit crowded there, let's start with the first one.



Too Faced Shadow Insurance eye shadow primer. I am sure you already know this but just in case that someone new with makeup is reading this, I'll explain. This product is applied before your shadows and rest of your eye makeup. It is supposed to increase longevity and vibrance of the shadows. It also prevents any creasing. It really works! I have it for two years and use it almost every day (when I wear makeup, it is a part of my routine). It comes in a small 11g/0.35 Oz. tube but it will last you a looong time without going bad. My tube is a living proof.
It deserves its own post so that is all I'll say about it, for now.



Next favorite is again a Too Faced product. It is hidden in this cute little case of Pixie Perfect pallete and a part of my every day routine.


There are four shadows in the palette.


.............and the shade I am talking about is Too Faced, Velvet Revolver.

Too Faced, Velvet Revolver with flash
Too Faced, Velvet Revolver without flash
It is not completely used up because I have several in different palettes but I have been using the one from this palette for some time, now. I apply it with an angled eyeliner brush. I love the result I get that way. I am blonde and this shade works beautifully for me.
In Croatia, we can't get Too Faced anymore, since Sephora closed. The only way is to order them online.


Next is mascara. I first used it about a year ago and loved it. This is my second or third tube.


Essence, I Love Extreme mascara in the shade 01 (black). I find it in drugstores (DM, Kozmo, Muler...). It costs 30 kunas (about $5, 3 GBP, 4 Euros) and I love it! It gives my lashes craaazy volume, it looks like I am wearing false lashes. It is not for you if you like subtle lashes (more for a wa wa wooom effect....). I got tons of compliments wearing this one. But online, some of the girls hated it because it made their lashes fall out more than usual (so they claim). I haven't experienced that!
They have old school brush (no rubber brush here) which in the picture looks strange but that is because mine is dead. I would repurchase it  (I did).


L'Oreal Contour Resist Waterproof Long wear Retractable Eyeliner in the shade 204 brun moka/chestnut.. Great eyeliner in my opinion! I use it almost every day which is evident from the picture since this is all that is left!

yes, unfortunately, that is all that is left
I use it to tightline. It is perfect to make your eyelashes look fuller and since it is brown, you can wear it with every look (just with mascara or smoky eyes).


It has a sharpener on the other end which I never used. The reason for that is that I never needed it for defined lines, and for tightlining a soft tip is much wiser than spiky one. It is soft and it really is waterproof. Yes, its intensity isn't equally vibrant after 10 or 12 hours of wear but it is still there doing its thing.


I am not sure where you can buy it or how much it costs because I got it from a girl on a forum for 20 kunas (2 GBP, 3 Euros, $3.50).


And now some new finds for me....

Wet n Wild, Greed Gourmandise palette I already told you about (review here). Inspite of the grey-purple shade which is nice but not crazy pigmented, I love this palette. I have been reaching for it constantly this month, and when that says someone with my number of choices, that means something. I am not saying you have to buy it, especially if you're not so crazy about the colours in it, but for me, this is a definite favorite!


The top matte cream shade is a favorite on its own. Love it! So soft and pigmented... This is a perfect shade for highlighting under your brows or for the inner corner of your eye. I recommend something like this for more mature skin because it won't emphasise signs of aging. I will do a review on Wet n Wild Brulee and compare these two. Don't buy this palette just for this colour, yet.


We can't buy Wet n Wild in stores in Croatia. We have to order it online (eBay or nonpareilboutique for instance).


And last but not least is a blush brush from Eco Tools.


It came in a 6 piece set. I haven't seen it sold separately (only powder brush which is cut differently). It costed 115 kunas (the set), which is about 11.50 GBP/$17/15.50 Euros. I bought it in Kozmo. It is cruelty free but soft like no other!!! What makes it even more perfect is the shape of it. It is cut so amazingly that I think that even someone with 0 knowledge about makeup (who knows only that blush is supposed to go on cheeks) couldn't do that incorrectly. It is like it was made especially for my face. I like it even more than my YSL blush brush.


That is it.

Do you have any favorites? A blog where I can see them?

Tell me....

Love, beautyandbrains007