It's a dreaded B post from me again... (& not blouse)
....good old Beauty of course. To be honest, this for me is less about a luxury but more of a necessity to keep from being asked if I have a Freedom Pass when I go to buy a train ticket.
My usual preamble of excuses - I am not a Beauty Blogger at all and profess to have exceptionally little knowledge in this area. Hence it's also a short blog.
It is something that I am really loathe to spend money on - up there with underwear, tyres and piano lessons. But, like I say it is a necessary evil and there is nothing I like better than uncovering something that doesn't cost a fortune and genuinely works. Really works, as good as things that are 3 or 4 times the price.
So without further chuntering on from me, let's get down to the nitty gritty - starting with my hair.
Now we are all aware how much I love my Babyliss Big Hair (when I say love, that means "can't live without") but recently I've discovered a slightly different look - wavy. Lots of you have asked how I get it looking like that and yes it is naturally wavy but think frizz ball pubey waves as opposed to beachy waves.
For that, I need help and everyone told me I need to buy some fancy wand thing that isn't cheap but is amazing.
Well - back to my point about loathing spending money on things like this plus I needed it in a hurry - so thank heavens for Click and Collect from Waitrose. I thought I'd just try a styling wand that was a fraction of the cost I was told I needed to spend. And what do you know, it's amazing.
Except that they don't sell it at John Lewis anymore (why?!) and it's not £19.99 anymore (I only bought this a matter of weeks ago - how does that even work?)
Best price I've found is at Amazon.
Remington Pearl Wand £23.41 free delivery This is the one I have - guaranteed for five years so they clearly thing it's going to last and it's honestly very easy to use. I haven't burnt myself yet which is about the best endorsement they could get (look up klutz in the dictionary and you'll see my ugly mug gurning back at you)
Secondly, onto a newly found favourite. Friday night, yes I went to M&S for their fancy schmancy opening. And there was a lovely lady handing out samples from their Beauty Hall. This just goes to show how valuable samples are as I have always wanted to try the Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse (dry body oil to you and me) but it's not the cheapest.
However for the last two mornings, I have lathered myself in my little packets of samples and yes, I'm sold. But as much as I do love my M&S (well, love to hate as we know...), at the moment there are no offers on beauty and I have found it online at Feel Unique for a third off. Which is an amazing offer. Beat that M&S.
I also tried the perfume - have been looking for an easy to wear day fragrance and this is the same scent as the body oil and so work perfectly together. Am pressing purchase tonight as it is such a good deal (in fact I'm tempted to order two sets....)
Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multi Usage Dry Oil Limited Edition was £28 now £18.67 for 100ml (apparently one of these is sold globally every 7 seconds)
And the fragrance which to me is the absolute ideal every day scent.
Nuxe Prodigieux Le Parfum was £43 now £28.67
In for a penny, in for a pound (well just over a fiver) and if we're fragrance layering then it seems foolish not to get the shower gel as well.
Nuxe Body Gel Douche was £8.50 now £5.67
By the way if you use the code vbunique (it's printed in lower case) you should get 12% off full price things (I googled this so fingers crossed it works, I shall be trying shortly)
Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm £36 Removes all make up, no other eye make up remover needed. Smother over whole face - it's amazing. I think it's better than Eve Lom and is half the price.
And boy have I found one I LOVE. It's not expensive, it's ideal for every day and it lasts. It really really lasts. You can apply once and not have to think about applying it for the rest of the day. Comes with its own lipbalm to keep your lips moisturised throughout the day. Honest to god this works.
Max Factor Lipfinity Number 16 - Glowing. £10.99
This is from a month or so ago but this is the shade - it's slightly more plummy in real life I would say, but it really is the most ideal pinky plum I've come across. Apparently it's the best selling shade in the range (which must be why they've sold out of on Boots.com)
Love this cardigan on you, Kat. You look fab as always. I'm not a big one for beauty products either though I'm still using the LA Roche Posay moisturiser you recommended ages ago. It's fab! Lynne x
ReplyDeleteI was going to post that again as it's a 1/3rd off and I need some more - I still use it too! But it's out of stock! It's amazing, isn't it?! So pleased you like it x
DeleteI have the Emma Hardie cleanser too. Pricey but amazing and a tub lasts ages! Looking great as ever even with a hangover ;0). Sarah x
ReplyDeleteI have bought the 200m one from QVC but they so rarely have it. It's fabulous - I won't use anything else now. I ran out a couple of weeks ago and have been using a selection of stuff i've been sent and my eyes are about 2 days away from a massive flare up. Couldn't recommend anything i've been sent and will go back to buying what I know works!
DeleteHI, a product called Blephrasol is great for Blepharitis, clean your lids with it twice a day, also doubles as a make up remover, available from chemists.
DeleteThe Feelunique code definitely works - I used it just before I read your blog! Qualifying items though, so maybe not everything.
ReplyDeleteYup just used it myself - worked on the Emma Hardie and the Elegant Touch Nails (more jet black - LOVE)! x
DeleteThank you for the heads up with the Feel Unique discount o n Nuxe!! The Nuxe Parfum was my go to summer parfum, receiving lots of compliments. TBH it stays on a whole lot longer than Estee Lauders Bronze Goddess which I used last year. Love reading your posts! Thanks again Kat, now off to sneak some more bits into my Feel Unique basket ;) Jill x
ReplyDeleteOoh I saw that amazing cardigan in the Hush catalogue earlier this and immediately feel in love with it! Currently trying to justify the price!
ReplyDeleteMe too but just looked online and its sold out ... we snoozed and lost !
DeleteIt's a big make-up day for me if I apply blusher as well as mascara. I do swear by the BBH though, so I will probably have to check out that styling wand. The picture of your stockpiled body butter really made me laugh - I can't resist the latest wonder product, and I have a drawer full of multiple jars and bottles of various products I bought in bulk but stopped using when I got excited by something new. Somehow I don't think I've saved much by taking advantage of bargain prices over the years!
ReplyDeleteBecky x
Oh I'm so glad that there's another woman out there who really resents spending money on cosmetics - I swear it brings me out in a rash!! (pardon the pun) I adore the Nuxe oil (and as someone who has psoriasis, I can vouch that it doesn't irritate skin). I also love and seriously stockpiled the Lidl argan oil hair conditioner (€1.29 - how could you go wrong?) but my latest love is Roche Posay Rosaliac CC cream ... for ladies who are slightly older (and may have smoked!) and might just be discovering little red veins ... this stuff is genius. Use instead of a moisturiser and you have natural looking, blemish free skin. Adore it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the discount code, Kat, just saved myself a few quid off the L'Occitane hand cream - gawd knows my poor parched paws could do with it!
ReplyDeleteTry the Nuxe oil in your hair after blowdrying, just a small amount, run it through with your fingertips, it's fab!
ReplyDeleteI also suffer from the flaky eyelid thing & the only thing I can use to remove eye makeup is Simple cream remover. I've tried so many other expensive things but this is the kiddy for me!
ReplyDeleteAlso, the EH is fabulous, no doubt about that but during a skint month, I tired the Boots Botanics cleansing balm & it is amazing, just as good IMO for a fraction of the cost :) x
I agree with Sarah above - the Boots Botanics is great. Doesn't smell as nice but great for a month when you've overspent on clothes/shoes. Temple Spa's 'In the Beginning' is also amazing. And that's the Lipfinity I use also - I mix it with the darker 108 to reduce the sparkle a bit. They are great though I wish you could buy just the colour and not always have to buy the balm....I've got 3 or 4 extra balms in my makeup drawer that I've never used! Ax
ReplyDeleteNEVER thought I would read about blepharitis on your lovely blog. When the doctor told me I had it I just thought wow, could it sound any yuckier? I found La Roche Posay nutritic 5% cream on eyelids very good. And LOVE anything Nuxe. Never knew there was a perfume though - definitely one for the Christmas list. When I was camping in France I got the aftersun cream - the body lotion is so expensive but this was just 16 euros.
ReplyDeleteI love The Nuxe oil and have used it in and off for years! I will check out Lidl, that looks an amazing bargain, and also every time I see you in that Hush cardi I want to steal it off you!
ReplyDeleteA x
Kat, on a slightly different subject, and I know one that makes everybody groan but.....I love your straight leg jeans style and never seem to be able to find any, everything ends up being either skinny or boyfriend.... can you possibly do a post as I'm getting desperate ....jean envy overtaking my life !!!
ReplyDeleteUrm how come you look bloody good on a hangover and I look like a rough badger?
ReplyDeleteGreat post as always, will definately be trying out some of the products. Any chance you could do a post on chelsea boots or flat boots. Thought I had found the perfect pair when mango emailed me to let them know they had sold out. Thanks
ReplyDeleteMy mango order finally arrived today, after they had emailed me to say half of it was out of stock! It's all going back, not only had I forgotten what was in it but realised I really didn't want any of it after such a long wait!!
DeleteThanks for the beauty tips- actually I rather look forward to them on your blog! I tend to keep it simple and love a good bargain too. You look beautiful and I hope everything goes well with your meeting for your son.
ReplyDeleteAwwwwwww now on your recommendation I bought a babylis big hair, it is great. I also have a conical curling wand, equally great.
ReplyDeleteJust joined feelunique and bought the Nuxe oil as I am a big fan of Bronze Goddess - crossing fingers it is just as nice!!!
I love Emma Hardie too, one of the few things I buy repeatedly. I saw they had it in Debenhams recently, I was disappointed when they stopped selling it in John Lewis and I couldn't click and collect anymore!
ReplyDeleteI am not sure your sunglasses do you any favours. The size is wrong.
ReplyDeleteMy friend Rachel (LadyM Presents) gave me a Nuxe set for my birthday in August & it's just divine!
ReplyDeleteSpotted all that Argan Oil stuff in our Lidl last week & got one of each thing. Not used it yet though but for the prices I couldn't resist!