M.I.A

King's Cross // Wine and burgers

  

Breakfast in bed // 3 for 2

Cinema // Forbidden Corner

North East // Train necessities 

Lumiere // Liquid lunch

What have you been up to recently?

DAILY WANT

Zara City Bag - £59.99

The amount of bloggers I have seen carrying this bag around is unreal and I can see why. It has a separate padded section especially for laptops and the aesthetic is beautiful.

Although black is chic and goes with everything...variety is the spice of life so I would opt for this grey toned version. 

But until I have bought everyones Christmas presents bags are low on my 'to buy' lists. Window shopping can still be fun though, right?

LA VIE EST BELLE

After receiving a fair few compliments on my current perfume I decided to write about it here and inform you all of it. La Vie Est Belle (translation 'Life is beautiful' [French degree coming in handy there] is by Lancôme and is an eau de parfum and therefore a little stronger. It is a unique scent that was put together by three of France's leading perfumers. 

Initially it smells quite sweet, a few people have said when they tried it the scent was too sickly for them. However, once it is absorbed and mixed with my natural scent it creates an elegant allure. Having top notes of jasmin, orange blossom made it perfect for Summer and I may have to find a muskier/spicier scent for this Winter. However, the real selling point for me is the staying power. Just a few spritzes of this is enough to last all day and maybe even to the next day if I am wearing the same top. 

Retailing in Boots for £54 for 5oml is quite a bargain compared to the likes of Chanel or Gucci. Could this be my new scent? 

BOTANICS EYE MAKEUP REMOVER.

There have been mixed reviews about this product and I can see why. When visiting a few friends in London this weekend I rummaged through my friends beauty stash (and was impressed and jealous - Emma Hardie cleaning balm?!). She leant me some of this stuff and I was pretty impressed from the word go.

Pro #1: Speedy

The Previous to this purchase I had been using Bioderma to remove my eye makeup and it was a slow and tedious process which ruined many towels. However, a few wipes with a soaked cotton pad and my eye makeup is gone!

Pro #2: £££

Compared to  the price tag of the more high-end products (Clarins and Lancome) this seems refreshingly kind to the purse. Purchased for only £3.99. After all, it is November...the month of saving in time for Christmas shopping.

Pro #3: Packaging

Yes, this may seem like a superficial and silly reason, but I am a sucker for packaging. My skincare collection is aesthetically pleasing and this really has to fit in with Origins and Estée Lauder packaging...thankfully it does. Is it strange that the nicer my skincare looks on my shelf, the more likely I am too use it? 

Con #1: Formula

Having read a few reviews I have to agree..this does sting the eyes slightly. Of course, no one opens their eyes when using something to remove their eye makeup and it just means you have to be extra careful. The first time I used it I did curse the name of Botanics but I learnt my lesson quite quickly. No pain no gain? 

Con #2: Oily Residue

This is not the biggest con ever, to be perfectly honest. It does leave an oily residue which people could find irritating but I always wash my face after removing my eye-makeup so it's a moot point really. 

What are your thoughts on this product? Did you use it before the re-formulation?

DAILY WANT

Mulberry Check Scarf

Oak Merino Cashmere Blend - £165 (eeeek, a girl can dream!)

Because who wouldn't want a bit of Mulberry in their winter wardrobe?

BARGAIN - £5.75 Origins product?

After a particularly gruelling day of work my mind was made up; I was going to treat myself to a new moisturiser. 

As soon as I had finished for the day I headed to Boots, determined to find this little gem: Origins Energy Boosting Moisturiser. After searching high and low I was about to give up and just happened to glance at the clearance section on my way to the till. I couldn't believe it when I spotted it sitting there with a price tag of £5.75! 

After having used this for several days I am already noticing a difference in my complexion. My list of pros for this moisturiser is endless but I have whittled my love for it down to these three factors:

Reason #1: Perfect For Winter

The gel texture of this moisturiser ensures that it sinks into the quickly whilst keeping my face well-hydrated. Perfect for those harsh and windy days where my face is dry and tight after trudging through the snow. 

Reason #2: Refreshing and Brightening

Not only does the refreshing orange scent boost your energy for the day, the cool feeling once rubbed into your skin will certainly wake you up. I used it on the morning and can literally feel my skin brightening up for the day ahead. 

Reason #3: £££

I picked this up for $5.75 which was the highlight of my day! Saving over £15 on a moisturiser seemed too good to be true. However, if you have missed the chance of picking this up for cheap then don't worry, I think it's well worth the original price tag. After using this for a few days I have noticed my face requires less and less as it hydrates, meaning I won't need to re-purchase this for a while. Perfect! I used to get through a Simple daily moisturiser bottle every two weeks!