40% Off Cosmetics, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

So last week after uni I decided to grab a bite to eat before I headed home, which is silly because I could have just eaten the food there? I guess I was just in the mood to spend, which isn't good when you combine it with a Priceline 40% off all cosmetics sale which lasted for that day (Priceline is pretty much like your Boots in the UK.  So yep. It's official, I suck at saving money... 

But, it was on sale at least!

Revlon Photo Ready BB Cream with SPF 30: $25.95 $14.97

I've read mixed reviews about this product and I thought I'd give it a go myself considering I was in need of a new BB cream anyway. It may be in a small package but I found that you didn't need to use much anyway. Once applied to the skin it felt light and seemed to blend in well with my tone. I am prone to oily skin at times but once I applied my foundation powder over my face it seemed to maintain that shine without making it look oily at all. It's still too early to tell but so far it seems pretty good!

Models Prefer Slanted Liner in Carbon Black $9.99 $5.99

After moving between crayon, pencil to gel, liquid eyeliner is the one for me. I always apply my liquid liner last and this eyeliner is just perfect for me. It's texter-like applicator makes it have a smooth application, dispensing the perfect shade of black with perfect straight lines. The fact that the tip is slanted means that it allows you to experiment with the thickness. I find it so much easier doing the cat-eye outline with it. And it dries so quickly on the eyelid!

Prestige My Brow Mascara: $12.95 $7.75

In Australia I feel like they don't really advertise the use of brow gel as much as they do in the UK - I say this because I searched high and low throughout the shelves of Priceline and found that this was the only one there. I like using brow gel because just keeps everything in tact throughout the day - woman cannot rely on just eyebrow pencil alone. 

L'oreal Paris False Lash Telescopic: $26.95 $16.15

I was actually really excited to buy this simply because it's the latest one on the market that they've been advertising. I'm a fan of really volumised, thick lashes so it made sense to try it out. I absolutely love it so far. The brush allows me to reach the little picky lashes towards the corner of my eyes yet keep them neat. The more I add on, the higher they go and I really like that. I've worn it a couple of times since I've gone out and it's really done the trick, kept it's shape all night (and I love how it's waterproof!)

One's A Party, Two's A Crowd... NOT!

So a few months ago (I'd say maybe a month and a half seeing as I haven't had this blog for long) I had a near mental breakdown when I discovered Topshop in Sydney stopped selling the Beguiled lipstick that I so badly loved for the season. My love for wine is slowly becoming a sickness, I need help!

As a last minute I'm bored but I have 20 minutes until work starts visit to Myer in the city, I made an impulsive splurge at MAC and purchased a wine shaded matte lipstick, Diva. Not only that but I purchased the closest shade of lip liner available, Burgundy. 

I felt pretty good with myself as I went to work for a few hours; knowing that my quest for the perfect shade of wine was completed I thought I'd treat myself to a little bit of shopping. That was when I saw it, dammit. On the shelves of the Topshop make up section, the word Beguiled just staring back at me, smiling. I was furious, I was confused, I was silly. Without even thinking about what I had done just six hours earlier I marched to the counter and completed the transaction for my lipstick.

So, I guess you can now say I have two of the same shades of lipsticks - and this actually isn't the first time! You can't tell me you've never bought the same nail polish shade because you liked the shade so much! Hmm, thought so!



I noticed however, as close as they may be, when I used them I noticed significant differences. Which is odd considering I thought I loved the Topshop's coverage! And I still do, I'll have you know. Diva seemed to glide more easily, I guess that's what is expected from a MAC lipstick. I felt that I instantly knew I'd get a much fuller lip from it. Whilst Beguiled, whilst it has amazing pigmentation too had more sheen to it, so it made me even more happier.

MAC's Diva in Matte vs Topshop's Beguiled, in natural light

In terms of value for money however, I still believe I'm in a win win situation. I have yet to fall for a drug store brand lipstick; they either seem to thin, last for a very small amount of time and seem to be worth double what I paid for with Topshop! In Sydney, MAC lipsticks usually range between $20 - $30 so it's a given you expect top notch standards, which I do and did receive. For only paying $15 at Topshop I'm still so pleased with the amount of pigmentation and the duration of the lipcolour. Given you use a lipliner like I do, I can actually go a whole 10 hour shift of talking to people.

Why can't all my other lipsticks last like this?

So I guess this union could only mean one thing: t that I now have a Beguiled wine lippy for the day time and a Diva matte lippy for night! And if I ever had to go from day to night I wouldn't have to worry about removing one shade to another, because I could simply go over it like a usual lipliner would. (BWHAHAHA)

I guess when you put two shades of wine together you really get to spot the difference; one makes me feel like red velvet cupcakes the other makes me want to write love letters and seal it with a kiss.

MAC's Diva in Matte vs Topshop's Beguiled, in flash

What I've also fallen in love with in terms of lip care is my spur of the moment purchase: Lush's Mint Julips Lip Scrub. I've been sick of having such horribly chapped lips, and since winter is slowly approaching I couldn't deal! I'm actually surprised with how addicted I am to it, and how I need to refrain from eating it every now and then. But it tastes like white chocolate, with a minty twist its delightful even if it is just tasty sugar.

 So how about you guys? Ever loved a shade so much you splurged like I did in the same day? Or perhaps, anything in general? Maybe I should stay away from the wine for a little while...

A Beguiled Love Affair

Beguiled lips and an awkward hand

Do you ever get those days once you finish a super long shift at work where all you want to do is blow all your hard earned money away on things you clearly don't even need? Yes? Good. At least I'm not alone!

After work today I thought I'd go and treat myself to a pinch of pampering and buy myself some new make up supplies. It may seem silly of me to do so considering I'll be flying off with my family to the United States in eight days, but I honestly had a bone that I needed to scratch. 

Working at Forever New has only increased my need to shop; every time we get a new collection I scan each piece - analyse how they sit when customers try them on and make up my mind by the end of the shift. It's as simple and as deadly as that. 

Today however, I refrained and simply bought a make up brush set- completely silly since I already own my own set of brushes, but this came in a really cool snake skin 'wallet inspired' clutch and I honestly had to have it. I'm actually also really excited to give it a go; it may not be professional make up artist standard, but it'll do for back ups!

Work, you're doing it right.

But onto much worrying tales. After I finished my little splurge at work, I went to Topshop and thought I might treat myself even more with a lipstick that I already have. I'm sure you can't blame me for my love affair with Topshop lipstick. The pigmentation of Topshop lipstick is perfect for me and adds great matte and a tinge of gloss coverage. 

Beguiled by Topshop $15 - come back to me.

Beguiled. That was his name. It rolled of the tongue perfectly and left my lips tinted in a perfect shade of wine. I scanned the shelves, squeezed myself through teenage girls who should have been at school, only to find it not there.

 Devastated. Shattered. Confused.

I shamelessly went online and searched up the beguiled shade on their website; it wasn't there either. I don't mean to overreact but I felt like my heart had been pulled out and thrown to the floor. I honestly don't know, Topshop Topman in Sydney - you broke my heart and I hope you have a way to mend it.

So my question is (out of desperation and curiosity); does your Topshop sell the lipstick in the shade 'Beguiled'? Have you ever had a love affair with an item they've taken off for the season? 

Perhaps it'll be in stores when I go to America and I'm just being a crazy kid..