Technic

Make-up

A haul full of bargains!

April 15, 2014

I’m always one for a bargain but I think I got some real steals in this haul!

As always this wasn’t planned…I was just going to look! Then suddenly I remembered I had a boots gift voucher and it all got a bit..out of hand. No regrets though as I already love everything I picked up!

My story starts in Superdrug as I decided this would be the day I finally fulfilled my long desire for Sleek’s Rose Gold blusher. Handily enough the Sleek counter faces the MUA counter so it was a no-brainer that I’d turn around and pick something up. I settled on the MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Laquer in Reckless as Amie loves hers in Atomic (reviewed here) and it’s the only thing she’d found that can survive an hour under stage lights!

My next stop was Boots, and how glad was I to have saved my gift voucher from my birthday haul when I spotted the Sanctuary Illumination Moisture Lotion and Soap and Glory CC Superfluid and Sit Tight Intense XS in the clearance section! I also took a swing by the Bourjois counter where I found the light Delice de Poudre (which I’ve been looking for for ages!) and powder blush in 41 Healthy Mix.

I can’t resist the bargains in Poundland, and so picked up a Sally Hansen Magnetic Nail Colour in Silver Elements, Nail Rock Nail Caviar in Acid Caviar and Mars some Deep Heat and Deep Freeze style sprays as I pulled a muscle in my Body Combat class earlier in the day (owie!), a Love Hearts scented candle in Very Vanilla and some bright blue face cloths for my gym bag.

My final stop was Bodycare where I found my favourite nail varnish remover – Sally Hansen Moisturising Polish Remover – for half it’s usual price and then did a little happy dance as the Technic Electric palette was back in stock!

The best part of all was that (with my £25 boots voucher which covered all the purchases there AND gave me some change!) was that all this came to only £21!

Totally hellbent for all the shinies at a fraction of the cost!

– Gem

Nails

Halloween Pumpkin Nails

October 24, 2013

It’s that time of year -again- where we have just a few precious months before Christmas and Halloween strikes! What better way to celebrate than to play around with lots of funky nail designs.

This is just a quick one to get into the spirit of things so I hope you enjoy it.

Things you will need:

An Orange Nail Varnish
A Black Nail Varnish
Obligatory base and top coats
Nail brush/dotter or tooth pick/cotton bud

First of all coat your nails with a base coat. I always use Avon’s peeling and brittleness solver and base coat.

Next paint all except your “accent” nail with a black colour. I’m using Avon’s nailwear pro+ in Licorice. I absolutely adore this black and have not found one like it yet. It gives such a beautiful shine!

Next take an orange and paint your accent nail. I’m using technic Party Brights in Sunset Strip which I bought specifically for Halloween-esque nails. This took quite a few coats before I was happy. I also used this to paint the tips of my black nails. Because this is such a weak colour and needs so many coats, this gave a haunting opaque orange look over the black which I liked so much I kept.

Take your nail brush and draw an upside down apply shape as an outline for your Pumpkin.

Colour this in and add a curved line either side in black which thickens in the middle. You can also add a stalk at the same time.

Once dry, take your orange or another colour and use a dotter for the eyes and mouth. I used O.P.I’s The Drummer is Hot from the Rock Goddess set, mostly because I wanted to play with it.

Paint over with your favorite top coat and basque in the glory of your shiny Pumpkin nails! Simples.

Do you have any Halloween nail designs you can share with us?

Totally hellbent for seasonal nail art

-Pants

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Make-up, Nails

A mini haul and some unsuccessful shopping!

September 23, 2013

I had to pop to my local shopping mall today to pick up a birthday card and present for my sister and though I’m trying to save money (and thus stop buying lots of make-up!) I promised myself one treat.

I headed straight for Sally and peered helplessly at the O.P.I stand till a clerk came to ask if I needed help. Seems this was due on today’s delivery but she “wouldn’t know till she had sorted it all, so come back tomorrow”.

Drats!

I started lusting after the O.P.I Rock Goddess set the moment I spotted it on-line. Admittedly more for Rolling Bones and The drummer’s hot (and the free bracelet!) than the other two shades, but at a RRP of £12.99 for four O.P.I shades and an extra gift I wouldn’t complain at Yellopalooza and Stand in lime for days as I don’t own any similar shades.

HOWEVER. My lust was not be sated with this delicious treat today so I moved on and picked myself up a few bargains in it’s place. I’ll return for the varnishes next time!

Another Poundland bargain. I picked up two Revlon Top Speed polishes in Ignite and Black Star. RRP is £5.99 so a few pennies saved there!

Also how cute is the butterfly wrapping paper I picked up for my sisters gift!

Bodycare had slim pickings today, but I saw this Chubby Stick style Technic lipstick in a gorgeous pinky purple (shade 16) for only £1.19 and was sold! On that note I definitely need some purple lipsticks – how is it I don’t own a single one!

I popped into Superdrug in search of the new MUA Pro-Brow Kit, but alas the shelves were looking very empty. As my current brow palette is completely out of gel, I settled for going old school and bought a clear mascara to set them. At only £1 I figure it’s not much of a loss if it doesn’t work!

Finally honourable mention goes to these ADORABLE mini animal sticky-notes that arrived in the post this morning. Only 99p from Ebay! You can’t pick which set you get (I was totally hoping for the ones with the zebras!) but they are all quite adorable so worth the risk!

So there you go, a mini budget haul of four cosmetic items for only £4,19!

Totally hellbent for saving pennies

– Gem