Budget Beauty Wishlist #1

Bereft of brain space to think up a witty title.

So as I have been wandering the blogosphere I have discovered how beauty bloggers work. Key words are: haul, swatch, wishlist, trend oh and not forgetting giveaway! This afternoon I went to look at make up in my local town centre. It's a good hobby; so many free sprays.

I was planning to do swatches on my arm and take photos but the rain and the angry Newportonians soon put me off doing that. The trouble with Newport is the lack of a good department store.  The only one,'Wildings',is a scene straight out of  'Are You Being Served?' The problem caused by the lack of a good department store is the the scarcity of high-end make up to try and well I just love high-end make up and fragrance. (I especially like trying it for free.)

As I brave the internet sales torture I am going to compile a high-end wish list and a budget wishlist. I thought of this when I tested some cosmetics at your standard boots make up counter. (Note, and note well that I did not look at Boots No7 or the the tiny clinque bar - strictly High Street if you will.)

Lusting over Chanel's 'Black Velvet' nail polish for too long before I realise it was only a special edition will teach me not to try things sooner.

As modeled here by the beautiful Karen-O. So I know right, I know I want the Kate Moss lipstick with matte black nails. Superb. Make the bling stand out even more, right? The Chanel one isn't to be found, especially in the deepest darkest depths of Newport. It came out over a year ago, would it be retro to bring it back? 

Had my paws all over the nails inc. and OPI websites. Do you think I could find one? NO. How could you make a polish go matte? Oh Essie, they have the answer to everything nail related.

Essie's matte about you in Superdrug. £8.99. I'm sure I have seen it cheaper but I can't remeber the brand. Still I suppose I could make any of my polishes have a matte appearance with this and not just have a rarely used Chanel piece in my polish collection. 

This happens to be another budget beauty item on my wishlist.

I saw Rimmel London's gel pot eyeliner in aubergine priced at a reasonable £6.49 in Boots and Superdrug, both of which have associated cosmetics offers. It is a rich pigmented waterproof liner that takes some work to get moved! The best thing about the product is the brush which is kept in the lid. No more fussing and finding the tiny applicator brushes you get with other sorts of liner that comes from a pot. I have this in black, and violet or aubergine rather will look rather spectacular against my deep brown eyes. Sometimes, it's a handy trick to dip a kohl pencil in the pot and use that to set the eyeliner in place. 

I'm looking forward to 'doing a haul' and sharing the results. Tell me of any budget beauty finds you keep on your wishlist or links to your blog. I like them too!

This blogging malarkey is catching on, addictive isn't it?

Such a little thing.

"Such a little thing..."

My trip to the threading bar.

Yes, I know it's Movember. I'd love to be a mo sista, but my pride lets me down. I just cannot leave my upper lip lined with downy blonde hair that people assure me they can't see. A side effect of PCOS that drives me to the biggest Tesco in Europe of a Thursday to get my facial hair threaded. Great fun. I've started something here, the first time I had it done. I have to get myself in to a trance like state in the middle of a busy supermarket. Is a supermarket salon is a step up from a shopping centre or the window of a Superdrug? I'm not too sure. Halfway through when I am on the verge of feinting I have to drag myself back from the brink. I always consider walking out after one eyebrow now it happens right before she tells me she is done. 

I just love the benefits of threading. I don't so much love the pain. Next time I think I'll have ten pots of porridge and a sugary tea to deal with the kind of shock my body goes through when being errrr threaded? Such a little thing, but it makes such a huge difference to my make up and face. 

I have heard them be described as HD eyebrows as '"it's what the celebs do when they are going to be on high definition TV."
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     So I googled 'scousebrow' and images of Kate Middleton appear. See, classy? Refined? 









































 I like to call them my HD scousebrows. I absolutely love it when thick heavy eyebrows are on trend. So therefore I like mine thick and groomed and full of colour. 

Can you imagine how mortified I was to discover that the ummm threadist had taken pretty much all of my brows except for a tiny line? Well, very is the answer. Thankfully I have an amazing product to help me colour them in on a daily basis. 

You can't mention brows without mentioning Benefit's amazing browzings. If I am going for a more dramatic look I will always use the pigmented wax separately; defining the shape. Then I use the lighter powder to keep them all in perfect nick ALL DAY! If i'm in a rush I tend to use the wax and powder all at once and it also does the trick and lasts for ages.

There are three different shades to choose from. As I have red hair I chose the medium variant and I love how rich the colour is. The hard angle brush and smooth wax consistency makes the product gilde on without leaving a heavy residue. Gone are the days of clear mascara or vaseline to hold the enormous brows in shape. 

Thing is, now that I have started threading, I'm just going to have to carry on. I could never go back to plucking, tweezers are evil and it makes the hair grow thicker. After an unsightly rash on my top lip after using a depilatory cream I couldn't bring myself to buy another. So that is how I ended up sitting in the middle of a supermarket on a Thursday evening, well in the zone.A month of psyching myself up for the next round in the threading ring.

Still, they help me pull a good non impressed Morrissey face.

Two free samples from awesome total moisture range or porefessional here!