Duty Free/Airport Haul

I recently went to Greece flying from Heathrow. I went to the airport with intentions that I was going to treat myself. I didn't go craaaazy, but if you've followed me for a while you'll know I have next to nothing in the way of 'high end' makeup (I didn't even really own anything MAC before this) so I wanted to get a few bits.

I started with MAC as I knew I wanted to get my first ever lipstick. I didn't even bother looking at the shades, I just asked if they had Velvet Teddy (£12.50) as I had tried my cousins a few months ago and loved it. She found it for me straight away and I was super pleased. Secondly, I wanted a highlighter. I was browsing them but if you've ever been to a duty free MAC, especially Heathrow North terminal, they are normally quite small with very few assistants so as soon as she was free I just asked her recommendation... She said the Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade (£20ish) was her fave, I swatched it and liked it, so didn't even think twice and purchased it. It was quite a rushed, panic buying experience! 

If you haven't seen Benefits new releases, you must have been living under the rock. I had the Benefit Brow Zings a few years ago and loved it, although since something put me off buying it again (I think it was the price...), however my mum bought it a few months ago in Duty Free and I always use hers so I decided to pick a new one up. I went for Benefit Brow Zings 04 (£20) which I wasn't sure would be the right shade as I haven't tried the new shades but its fine, it matches perfectly. The only thing I would say is I'm sure they have changed the product as it doesn't overwhelm me like my mums does when I use hers....

I got Bourjois Bronzer & Highlighting Duo (£7.99) from Boots, in the airport so it counts, but I really don't like it, soz. I know its every bloggers fave bronzer but nah, I don't like it :(

And lastly, just to sneak it in, I actually FINALLY bought Mary Lou Manizer (£17.50) (before holiday but it also counts). I've been eyeing it up for the longest time, but when FeelUnique sent me a discount code I ended up buying it for about £12!! BARGAIN!! And I ADORE IT! I actually have a full review coming soon so look out for that. :)

Have you picked up anything from Duty Free recently? Let me know if you've done a haul!

I just wanted to mention the new blog design and a slight name change too, I love love love it so would be grateful for any feedback! :)

Daisy xxx

BLOGMAS | Benefit Calendar Week 1

Everyone and their dog knows that I managed to get a Benefit advent calendar. If you weren't sure what it was, it is literally an advent calendar filled with makeup every day. I expected there to be thousands of tweets and blog posts about it but I'm actually surprised that there hasn't been many! So this is my first weekly update.

Firstly can I just say how bloody disappointed I am with this? I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't this. At all. I completely understood they weren't going to be full size products (because lets be honest, nothing is under £20 from Benefit). I had assumed they would just be minis but these are literally mini-minis. They aren't even mini size. I do feel a little ripped off at this because 1 or 2 uses the whole product will be gone. But maybe I should have researched it more before hand!! I will never learn.

DAY 1 - Benefit Paper Clips
I don't think anyone could believe it when day 1 was paperclips. I mean COME ON... I don't mind there being paperclips but the first day!? Maybe start it amazingly and get worse as it goes on but NO not the first day!! 

Day 2 - Ultra Plush Lipgloss

I'm yet to try this lipgloss but not being a lipgloss lover, I'm not expecting much. I swatched some on my hand and it was very sheer and I also wasnt a huge fan of the smell.

Day 3 - They're Real Mascara

The standard They're Real mascara. If you dont know Benefit as a brand, I'm sure you will have seen this mascara. Some people swear by it. I think its good, but expensive and nothing to shout home about.

Day 4 - Stay Don't Stray
Again, I'm yet to try this so cant comment. But it's a 'eye shadow and concealer' primer. I've never heard of a primer for concealer.. That sounds like its adding a very unnecessary step to doing your makeup.

Day 5 - It's Potent! Eye Cream
I know I probably should care a lot more about my skin than I do but I don't. Unfortunately. So eye cream is wasted on me, but my mum might like it.

Day 6 - The POREfessional
Heard A LOT of rave reviews about this stuff and I am excited to try it however it is SO small I feel it will literally be used up after 1 use. Boohoo :-(

Day 7 - Benefit Sparkly Hair Tie
Wow, what I always wanted!! Although hair ties do come in handy, these type are quite frankly.....crap. Not much more I can say about it.

I'm sorry if this is a complete downer on my 'was meant to be amazing' calendar but it's an honest review!! I don't know if I'm disappointed with the products because I'm disappointed with the whole calendar in general but I really cant see it getting much better, especially as I know everything that is coming as it's listed on the back. Well done Benefit, well done.

Do you have this advent calendar? What did you think of the first week?

Mascaras I wouldn't repurchase

Some controversial ones here. As I always mention (yeah, I know you're probably bored of me saying!!) I use A LOT of mascara, probably more than pretty much anyone I've seen whiles blogging. I always have done since I've known what mascara is and I personally love the 'spidery' lashes. These are all mascaras I would defiantly not re-buy for whatever reason.

Rimmel Rockin' Curves

Rimmel Rockin' Curves* - I received this from the lovely Helena in our valentines box swap. She got it for me because she was really curious as to how it worked.. Well, Helena, its rubbish. I have seen reviews on this and the majority really liked it which makes me think maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I have tried to use this again and again and I just really don't like it. It doesn't do ANYTHING for me at all and I'm really not a fan. 

Maybelline Rocket Mascara

Maybelline Rocket Mascara - I found this lurking at the back of my mums huge makeup draw still unopened. I thought I would give it a go as I couldn't see her using it any time soon. Oh boy, how I wish I didn't bother! This was the most POINTLESS mascara I have ever used. Absolutely NO product came off the brush and it genuinely didn't even look like I had used a thing on my lashes. I would stay away from this at all costs and I would never ever use it again. Not even if I had completely run out! That's how unimpressed I am!! 

Collection No Clumps Mascara

Collection No Clumps Mascara - I got this free in one of those 'spend over such and such and get this free'. Because its free I can't exactly slate it, but its no good really. I have tried to use it on a few different occasions but it doesn't work for me. That's not to say it might not work for someone else! 

NYC Big Bold Mascara

NYC Big Bold Mascara - I'm not 100% sure how I got this because I'm pretty cert I didn't buy it myself. The reason I think this is because it isn't the type of brush I would go for. I love thin brushes not thick ones because I just don't think they work very well (for me, anyway!). This mascara just didn't work. But then again, I did have a feeling it wouldn't! 

Benefit They're Real Mascara

Benefit 'They're Real' - ha, this is the real controversial one. Firstly, the price would put me off buying it again anyways. My mum got me this for Christmas and although its not BAD and I would use it again if it got bought for me, I wouldn't buy it myself. In my opinion, it does exactly the same as my all time fave NYC mascara and if I wore one on each eye you probably wouldn't be able to even tell the difference. The price for the size you get is insane and considering how quickly I use mascaras, this would be pointless to spend so much! 

What mascara wouldn't you repurchase? 

High end VS High street!

If you follow me on Twitter you will know that I haven't been on any kind of blogging programme (blogger, Bloglovin' etc) since Friday and I genuinely have withdrawal symptoms!! Its crazzyyy! 

Today I have for you the next 2014 Blogger Challenge challenge, which is high end VS high street. When I first read the task I originally thought that I might create a look from both high end products and high street, but as the time to publish pushed closer and closer (I think I might even be late, again!!) I decided to do the easy option - a wish list!! 

Benefit - high beam highlighter | Nars - tinted moisturiser  | Benefit - They're real! mascara | YSL lipstick | Urban Decay - Naked 2 | Bobbi Brown - glow bronzer

Rimmel London - Apocalips Lip Lacquer | Rimmel - eyebrow pencil | Topshop - Lipstick in Macaroon | Revlon ColorBurst  | NYC colour palette  | Maybelline Big Eyes mascara  | Topshop Glow in Polish | Maybelline - Baby Skin primer | Rimmel - Wake Me Up foundation

It was A LOT easier to do a wish list for the high street products, I think this is simply because I'm a cheap makeup kinda girl and don't ever spend too much on anything, so high end prices scare me away! I'm a firm believer that you can get the same quality for much cheaper prices!! 

High street will always win for me :P 

What are you favourite high street/high end picks? Do you have any of the same as mine?

aaannddd.. if you have reviews for ANY of the above please comment with links I will read all!