Balenciaga Bag Lookalike - With a £1,120 Saving!

Left: Balenciaga - £1,145

Right: H&M - £24.99

Have you found any designer lookalikes recently?

xxx

Fabulous Freebie: Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish with RED Magazine!

Hi everyone, I hope you all enjoyed the easter break and indulged in plenty of chocolate! Just a quick heads up to let you know that May's Issue of RED Magazine contains a free 30ml tube of the infamous Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish and a Muslin Cloth, with retail value of £5.50! This is fantastic if you'd like to try the cleanser, as the magazine is only £3.90! A word of warning, though: I got mine from Sainsbury's, as in some places, the magazines do not contain the freebie (yes, I'm talking about you, Morrisons!), so watch out! Here's what the issue looks like:

"We only make one cleanser because this formulation is the ultimate in concentrated yet gentle cleansing power and works on every age and skin type.

Our plant based cleanser has a two-phase action, phase one is the cleansing. Free from mineral oil, it has a rich and creamy texture and swiftly removes all traces of face and eye make up, even stubborn mascara.Phase two is the polishing. Polish off the cream using the pure muslin cloth to gently dislodge dead skin cells and help reveal clean, soft and radiant skin. Naturally active ingredients include eucalyptus and cocoa butter for smoother, clearer skin. Suitable for all skin types"

-Taken from their Website

In addition to the Liz Earle freebie, there are two samples inside the magazine: an Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid Makeup Sachet (Pg. 35) and a Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus Sachet (Pg. 194).

As if this wasn't already enough, there are also several pages with perfume samples on! Overall, I would highly recommend picking up this magazine, as you're not only getting a tube of Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish, but numerous samples and a hefty 300 page magazine to keep you busy! All for just £3.90 - a total bargain!

Have you tried Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish? What did you think of it?

xxx

Brand New: Nails Inc Fishnet Magnetic Nail Polish!

I am so excited about this - following the huge success of their previous Magnetic polishes, Nails Inc have announced the release of a new line of Magnetic Polishes! Their Fishnet Magnetic polishes come in three different shades: Piccadilly, Soho, and Spitalfields, all of the titles in line with the "London theme", along with the other polishes in their magnetic range - Trafalgar Square and Houses of Parliament to name a few.

Nails Inc have produced the polishes in three colours, promising to create a unique fishnet pattern like you have never seen before! You can create professional, chic nail art in a matter of minutes. Here's a sneak peek in to what they actually look like on the nails:

Spitalfields

Piccadilly

*Photos taken from the Nails Inc Website*

I love the look of these colours - so pretty, and the pattern the polishes create is so unique! If you want to purchase them, all three colours are currently available on the Nails Inc Website for £13 each - Click here for a link. If you really want one, I'd be quick, as the original Magnetic polish sold out extremely fast!

Have you tried Magnetic Polish? Do you like the look of this?

xxx

DIY: Topshop Studded Loafers

Hi everyone! Following yesterdays post about DIY Caviar Nails Manicure, I set myself the challenge of trying to replicate Topshop's Studded Loafers...

Topshop - £28 (That's if you can get hold of them!)

These couldn't be easier to make - and I've compiled a little "recipe" for you all, to achieve incredibly similar shoes for under a tenner! That's an £18 saving on the Topshop ones, which are nearly impossible to track down! It's crazy - I've seen a pair go for £50 on ebay, total madness! Anyway...

The first thing you'll need is a pair of plain pumps. I found mine in H&M for just £7.99

These do feel a lot more sturdy and supportive for your feet than the Topshop ones, which is ideal if you envisage on wearing them outside of the house - for £28, you should, anyway! You can probably pick up a pair for around £4 from Primark, but I find H&M shoes do last a lot longer, and they have a lovely suede effect, too! Next, you will need your studs. The ones on the Topshop Loafers are slightly pointy, however, if you prefer, you can use rounded ones. Both are readily available on Ebay for under £2 all in - bargain!

Click here for the Circular Studs

Click here for the Pointed Studs

Next, it's time to get busy! Now, you can of course randomly place studs on the shoes, however, I would advise getting a piece of chalk and marking where you want to put them beforehand, so A: you don't ruin the shoes, and B: you don't go overboard! If you want the studs to look exactly the same as the ones on the Topshop version, follow my little guide:

1. Make a straight vertical line of four studs in the middle of your shoe

2. Make two symmetrical lines going around the edge of the shoe. The studs should be placed in between the studs in the middle line. So, if you were to draw a line joining the two studs at the edge of the shoe, the line would cross in the middle of the middle studs, like this:

3. Add two studs in the middle of each of the lines you have just created. They should also line up, like so:

Now, for the sides of the shoes! I would highly recommend chalking where the studs go for this, as I have, as you want the studs to be symmetrical either side of the shoe!

4. This is how your shoes should look so far!

5. Carry on with the bottom line which you created on the front of the shoe. Take it all the way to the back of the shoe, curving slightly at the end.

6. Fill in the area under the line with two studs. Use the same technique as you did on the front of the shoe.

7. Create a final line, like the previous one. Ensure the stud is in between the two below it, like so:

Et Voila! 7 Steps to a gorgeous (and long-lasting) replica of Topshop's Studded Loafers! A lovely project for a rainy Sunday, and you'll have saved yourself £18 in the process! Better still, nobody's shoes will be identical to yours!

If you need any additional help, drop me a message below! I hope this was useful!

xxx

More Lines Added: River Island Sale! My Favourites...

So much coloured denim! Perfect for spring days/summer nights!

1. Pink Stripe Skinny Jeans Were £40, Now £20

2. Coral Fluorescent Skinny Trousers Were £30, Now £15

3. Pink Skinny Trousers Were £30, Now £15

4. Pink Fluorescent Skinny Trousers Were £30, Now £15

Gorgeous dresses, perfect for summer nights out, and also, classy enough for work parties, etc!

1. Beige Fringe Dress Was £35, Now £15

2. Purple Belted Playsuit Was £40, Now £20

3. Cream Flower Swing Tunic Was £45, Now £20

4. Black Bow Dress Was £45, Now £20

Has anything caught your eye in the River Island Sale?

xxx

DIY: Caviar Nails Manicure!

I am a huge fan of Ciate's Caviar Nail Kits and as soon as they were released, I was eager to get my hands on a set. However, within a few hours of release, they sold out, so I have been looking for alternatives! I was also a little reluctant to shell out £18 for what is effectively, a nail polish and a little tub of beads. 

So, I headed off to ebay and found these:

18 Bottles of Steel Bead Nail Art Beads

They come in an array of different colours, as opposed to the Ciate Manicure set, which only has one colour (unless you go for the rainbow one, pictured above). Here, you could even mix your own combinations! What's best about these, is they are just £2.19 from this ebay seller with free postage! Please bear in mind they are coming from Hong Kong, but for £2.19, you can't go wrong! I always wonder how these sellers from Hong Kong can make a profit when they offer items at an extremely low price with free shipping - surely most of the £2.19 would be used for shipping?! It certainly is the case in the UK! Anyway, I have ordered mine and there are plenty available! Once mine arrive, I will be making a DIY Caviar Nails post, but in the mean time, here is a fantastic Youtube Tutorial:

Have you heard of the Caviar Manicure? Will you be trying it out?

xxx

Lust List #003

Primark Pink & Mint Blazers

Photo from Belle's Boutique

Essie Tart Deco Nail Polish

River Island Lace Mint Skater Dress

H&M Ballet Pumps

Tangle Teezer

Givenchy Antigona Bag

What have you been lusting after recently?

xxx

Final Review: Avene Cleanance Range

Hi everyone! Over the past 4 weeks, I've been updating you with my progress with the Avene Cleanance Range. As it's been a month since I started using it, I think it's about time I gave you a full review on the range! Please note: this range is best suited to oily, blemish-prone skin.

The products I was sent to try: Soapless Cleanser, Purifying Toner, Anti-shine Regulating Lotion, and Exfoliating Hydrating Treatment Gel.

Cleanance Gel Soapless Cleanser 200ml - £8.25

I have really enjoyed using this cleanser! It is a thick, luxurious-feeling gel which produces a light lather on contact with water. It glides across my skin and leaves it feeling unbelievably smooth and feeling deeply cleansed. It has a fresh, clean scent which isn't too strong - always a plus! It is a little drying, which is nothing a little bit of moisturiser can't fix! However, as a result, it is fantastic at oil control during the day, in combination with the Anti-shine regulating lotion. These two will be a match made in heaven for the summer months, where my skin goes in to oil production overload! I can see this bottle lasting quite a while as I've been using it twice daily for a month and it's just under 3/4 full still! All in all, a perfect cleanser for the summer months, which I shall continue to use! I will however revert back to my Cetaphil Cleanser during the winter months, as it does dry my skin out just a little.

Cleanance Purifying Mattifying Toner 200ml - £8.75

Next up is the toner. Unfortunately, this, in combination with the cleanser was a little too much for my skin. Bearing in mind, the weather was wintery when I started using the range, my skin was a lot drier than normal, and was too dried out by them both. However, I plan to reintroduce it in to my routine during the summer, when my skin is a lot oilier. I will definitely let you know how I get on!

Cleanance Anti-shine Regulating Lotion 40ml - £10.50

I can't sing this gem's praises enough! If the thought of putting moisturiser anywhere near your oily blemish-prone skin makes you cringe, look no further! This lightweight, easily absorbed cream sinks in to the skin beautifully, and aids the healing of old blemishes. It keeps my skin hydrated all day without breaking me out, or leaving my skin like an oil slick a few hours later - a miracle! I actually look forward to applying this moisturiser, as it balances my skin out, and calms everything down unbelievably! It's a pleasure to use, and I would highly recommend it. The star product of the range, in my opinion! I can't wait to have a calm-looking, matte face mid-summer, as long as I'm using this wonder moisturiser!

Cleanance K - Exfoliating Hydrating Treatment 40ml - £10.50

Finally, another wonderful product from this range! This gel , best used as an overnight treatment, combines AHA's (Glycolic & Lactic Acids) with the BHA Salicylic Acid to gently but thoroughly exfoliate and refine the skin. It leaves my skin feeling amazingly soft and literally glowing by the morning! It, in conjunction with the other products, has also reduced the appearance of my post-acne scars, which is fantastic! I feel chemical exfoliatants are miles better for acne-prone skin than granular exfoliants like scrubs, as they are less irritating, and don't scratch the skin to smithereens (St Ives Apricot Scrub, I'm talking about you!) They can also aid healing by stimulating the skin's cells to regenerate. I will definitely continue to use this exfoliator as opposed to my old facial scrub, and I would highly urge anyone with acne-prone skin to try a chemical exfoliator, as they are truly fantastic! 

The range has definitely improved my skin - I have had one tiny (and under-control!) breakout since I started using this range, which is such a joy, compared to my previous 3/4. My oil production has definitely reduced and I haven't had to use oil blotting papers at all this past month! As well as fighting my acne, the range also keeps my skin so calm-looking and reduces redness, which is wonderful. In addition to the products I was sent, I purchased their Hydrance Optimate UV Light SPF 20, which is a holy grail product for me. It is incredible - no word of a lie, it is the first facial SPF I have ever used that hasn't left my skin feeling tacky or looking shiny after a couple of hours. It has a very similar texture to a light moisturiser, and also sinks into the skin extremely quickly. It leaves my skin feeling extremely soft, and also looking matte ALL DAY, yes, all day! I would highly recommend this as a daily SPF for people with troublesome combination/oily skin, especially during the wonderful weather we've been having recently!

If you're looking for a reasonably priced range to sort out your oily blemish prone skin, while totally calming it down, then this range is for you! A big thank you to Avene for giving me the opportunity to try these products. I'm so excited to see my skin getting better day by day! You can purchase the whole range from Boots, E-Chemist, and Escentual.com, where all Avene products are 33% off at the moment!

I hope you've enjoyed the series of updates and reviews I've posted, and they've been somewhat helpful! How do you keep your skin under control during the warmer months?

xxx

My River Island Sale Picks

Purple Raised Front Maxi Skirt - Was £40, Now £20

Yellow Belted Mini Skater Skirt - Was £25, Now £12

Beige Aztec Vest Top - Was £14, Now £10

Bright Blue Zip Super Skinny Jeans- Was £40, Now £20

Brown Lace Up Buckle Ankle Boots - Was £42, Now £20

Pink/Purple Colour Block Playsuit - Was £30, Now £15

Has anything caught your eye from the River Island Sale?

xxx

Fabulous Freebie: Nivea Super Moisturising Lipstick

Hello all! Just another fabulous freebie I have stumbled across, and I thought share with you all!

"Nivea Beaute Colour Shine Lipstick gives your lips a fresh and transparent touch of colour with a brilliant shine. Special hydrating formula with Jojoba and Avocado Oil to condition lips as you wear."

-Taken from their Website

Head on over to Halfpriceperfumes to get this lipstick for FREE - it has an RRP of £6.99 so grab a bargain! You only have to pay £1.99 for postage which still saves you £5! To get yours, simply add the lipstick to your shopping basket, and enter the promo code FREENIVEALIPPY at the checkout. Furthermore, you also get a free Fudge Oomf Conditioner sample! Go and grab yours now!

Have you come across any Fabulous Freebies lately?

xxx