I'm feeling particularly nervous about writing this post. I never planned to write it. But thinking about it my blog really isn't a place that takes it's self too seriously. I talk make-up and clothes, hardly groundbreaking. Emotions aside, I basically dropped a shit load of dollars in Sephora, no biggie. Aside from my dad nearly having a heart attack in horror.
I just want to start by saying that as soon as I knew the holiday was happening I donated most of my unwanted make-up to friends (mainly shoved to Elodie) and saved, saved and saved some more. I made a list of things I wanted to buy, mainly US brands and products that are hard to get hold of over here, and patiently waited not succumbing to buying anything for months.
So when I landed, I kind-of exploded and went bat shit cray.
Tom Ford Blusher in 'Frantic Pink' / Kiehls Creamy Eye Treatment
Tell I lie, I cracked in duty free.
Then being the BRUTE I am, I accidentally kicked this work of art on the plane.. sob.
A Cut Above / Set in Stone / Watermelon / Stylenomics
Essie is disgustingly cheaper in the US, so I just bit the bullet and went for it. Admittedly on the night I landed.
Cover Girl Mascaras / It's a 10! Miracle Leave In Product / Macadamia Hair Oil / Maybelline Colour Tattoo in 'Tough as Taupe' / L'Oreal Infallible Shadow in Iced Latte
In New York, Duane Reade practically dots each and every corner. A drug store haven, I couldn't resist the infamous Cover Girl mascaras, travel size hair products and two shadow shades that aren't available over here.
Then I moved on to Sephora territory. Can we take a minute to admire this stand? Say hello to the miniatures..
Beauty brands are missing such a trick not selling these miniatures over here. I know i'm not the only one who would go weak at the knees at miniture Nars... ahem.
Sephora was such a dream. It was clean, organised and had everything you could ever imagine. I practically visited every central NY store, whilst my dad abused the free wifi, my mum people watched, I had a DREAM filling my basket.
Urban Decay 'Sin' and 'Virgin' / Sephora Pencil Sharpener / Anastasia Brow Whizz / Urban Decay Travel All Nighter Spray
Treating myself to my favourite Urban Decay eyeshadow singles, they're firm favourites from my Naked Palette so I made sure to snap them up.. with a cheeky travel Setting Spray thrown in for good measure. A must-have on my to buy list was the Anastasia Brow Whizz. Hot damn, I'm smitten. There's a reason this bad boy is hyped. Look out for a more detailed post coming soon.
Sephora for OPI in 'Only Gold For Me' and 'To The Glitter End!' / Clinique Foaming Cleanser / Make Up Forever Rose Gold 28E Aqua Shadow
After Hannah informed me that Clinique was much much cheaper in the US, I made a beeline to purchase my favourite cleanser. Same applies to Make Up Forever, I could have bought the entire stand but I reigned myself in and choose the Aqua Shadow pencil (great shot I took there). The Sephora for OPI Glitter varnishes also made their way into my basket, so so pretty.
Make Up Forever Full Cover Concealer / Becca Beach Tint Duo / Tarte Blush in 'Tipsy' / Josie Maran Cheek Gelee in 'Poppy Paradise'
Ok I lied, the Make Up Forever stand had me crawling back. Since using the Full Cover concealer upon returning, I can tell you this product is the bloody bees knees. It may be pricey, but you literally need a smidgen. My technical beauty term there: smidgen. Next up was Becca, a brand that I had lusted over from afar from Kate's blog. In hind's sight I wish I had bought more from the range but I settled on this mini duo of Beach Tints, for a bargain of $16!
Calling my name across the store, the blush junkie inside of me couldn't leave a Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush sitting pretty on the shelf. I may have left the shop with zebra swatch marks up my arm from testing each shade, but finally settled on 'Tipsy' - I'm smitten. Get your ass over to Britain, Tarte!
Another US brand we cannot get our clutches on, how delicious does this Josie Maran cheek gelee look? Admittedly I haven't used this just yet (..a crime, I know) but it just looks so perfect..
It had to be done, enough said.
For the non-beauty o'holics out there, Marc Jacobs cosmetic line isn't available over here just yet.
The navy, thunderstorm grey shade had my fingers tapping away asking to be applied.
Did you know in Sephora they have NAIL BARS where you can take off your own nail varnish and just apply whatever shade they have that takes your fancy? We are so neglected.
Neutrogena Healthy Skin / Essie 'Lilacism' / Maybelline Colour Whisper in '55 Pearl'
A CVS drugstore dash early one morning produced the Neutrogena Healthy Skin foundation (I can't even comprehend how good this is, but I refuse to discuss on the grounds you have to spend 6 hours on a plane to buy it), another Essie offering and a Maybelline Caress Whisper in shade 'Bare Lips'. Yes, I got so excited I bought the lip balm shade by accidentally. Ironically, I love it!
As soon as I entered the doors of Sephora, I signed up to their free loyalty scheme and snabbed myself a Beauty Insider Card. Every dollar spend racks up beauty points which can be exchanged for gifts. After dropping er quite a bit, I was treated to a sample of Glam Glow, Living Proof Hair Primer (um..) and a nail varnish which I have a sneaky feeling is sitting in my New Jersey motel.
The lovely Sephora sales assistant noticed that it was my birthday that month (ok, I totally told her) and she kindly gifted me this mini Benefit Birthday set including a They're Real Mascara and a 'What's Up?' highlighter. How freeking amazing? I then went to Sephora in New Jersey and kind of re-told the same story to another sales assistant and she GIFTED ME ANOTHER. Don't judge me. Let it be your birthday every time you visit Sephora. Wise words.
Mac Pro Long Wear Concealer / Jest & Woodwinked Eyeshadows
With some time to kill in New Jersey Duty Free, I hit up the Mac counter. The price of Mac is far kinder on American ground, so it would be rude not to take advantage right? I picked up the seriously underrated Pro Longwear Concealer and two eyeshadows I had been lusting after since forever, Jest and Woodwinked.
Meet the Sephora Superstars Set..
As soon as I booked my holiday I logged onto Sephora to create my wish-list (obviously). And there was one thing I needed. The Sephora Superstars Set (now sold out). Containing a cracking line-up of must-have beauty products, I needed in. Including many beauty products that I was going to buy separately, this beauty must-have retailed at the snip of $75 (a far cry from it's $200 worth).
Notourisly hard to find in store, I kindly borrowed my American friends billing address and had it shipped to their house. It was love at first sight..
It includes:
Deborah Lippmann Glitter Polish, NARS Orgasm/Laguna mini duo, Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream in Light (LOVE), Urban Decay eyeshadow duo in Sin/Mushroom, NARS lipstick in Dolce Vita, Bumble and bumble Surf Spray, Origins GinZing eye cream, Josie Maran Argan Oil, Stila Stay All Day liquid liner, Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb rollerball, Too Faced Better Than False Lashes & Anastasia clear brow gel.
JUST LOOK at this mammoth size of my Jergen's moisturiser! That set me back a mere £4 - its massive!
Eucalyptus Mint, Pumpkin Apple, Leaves.
Cliche Bath and Bodyworks purchase. Despite the fact I'm not allowed to light candles (long story - I accidentally set fire to a loo roll and it hurdled across my garden) it had to be done.
And of course, a few holiday souvenirs in the shape of these..
Pepper Imps, Tongue Burners and Chocolate Frog from HP World.
Please don't think I'm crazy. It doesn't end there. I also hit up quite a few clothing outlets and basically bought most of J.Crew. Post to follow soon!
0 comments:
Post a Comment