Christmas Shopping | The Haul Post

Sooooo, I went Christmas shopping, with the good intention of finishing off my present buying.

Long story short, that didn't happen as I may have bought a few things for myself. Oops. Please

tell me I'm not the only one that does this. But, that does mean that you get to see what I bought! 

I apologise for the crappy lighting in the pictures :(

 

Cerutti 1881 - Boots £29.99 for 100ml (currently half price)
This is one of my all time favourite perfumes, but as I have quite a few I only tend to replace when I see them on offer. The 50ml version is currently £31 (Littlewoods) so when I saw double the size for less cost, I had to have it, and don't feel as guilty for buying it. Double win! I'm crap at describing scents so I'll go with the fragrance notes from The Perfume Shops website.

"A modern classic fragrance easy to wear during the day, but sensual enough for the evening. 1881 evokes the sensation of fresh air and the feeling of crisp linen, Cerruti's favourite fabric. Notes of Jasmine, Freesia and Sandlewood."

Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencils in Milk, Pots and Pans and Black Bean - £17 for the set from an independant local beauty store
After hearing about it from countless beauty bloggers/youtubers I caught sight of Milk when I was on holiday in Norfolk over the summer, the lid was cracked but at £3 I wasn't complaining. I used it and fell in love with it, the perfect accompaniment to eyeshadows that don't quite have the colour payoff I'd want, and it doesn't crease! I was heartbroken when I lost it, and it's quite difficult to find Nyx products in my local area so when I saw this set of three I couldn't resist! I know I could have got them cheaper, but need overode sense I think.

Yankee Candle Votives - The Candle Store £1.89 each
I love love love Yankee Candles, but don't see the point in buying the jars for seasonal scents as a jar will last me a month or more, I rarely decorate for Christmas before the 14th of December (family tradition) so I tend to only buy the votives at christmas and have the large jars of my favourite scents throughout the rest of the year. The four I've chosen for this festive season are Christmas Cookie, Sugared Apple, Cranberry Ice and Mandarin Cranberry. I also have a Red Velvet and a Snowflake Cookie left over from last year that I will probably utilise.

Benefit Rockateur Blush - Boots £23.50
I've been lusting over this since it's release and have only just decided to take the plunge, I'm yet to try it on my face, but from the swatches it looks like the perfect rose colour. It looked a little scary when I opened it due to the gold spray on the top layer... I know it's Christmas but I don't want to look like a fairy! Thankfully, when that's gone it leaves a lovely rosy blush although I was expecting something a little more akin to Sleeks' Rose Gold.

Benefit They're Real Mascara - Boots £19.50
There is only one word to describe this. Uber-epic-awesomeness! (Okay, I may have cheated there). Even though I use other mascaras, I keep returning to this one, and until they discontinue it and leave a broken hearted Harley in the process, I can't see it being shoved out of my make-up bag. 

Schwarzkopf Live Color XXL Hair Colourant in 43 Red Passion - Boots £4.50
A regular purchase; I've been buying this for that long it's become an old friend. From all I've tried this is the only home colourant that doesn't dry out my hair while giving me the colour I want. Being naturally dark-haired some dyes just don't have the colour payoff I'd like. This one, however = <3. 

Real Techniques Powder Brush - Boots £12.99 (On offer at the moment; buy one get one half price)
I only own one other RT brush, the expert face brush, but it's fantastic. Cleans easily, is soft on my skin and provides a really nice finish to my foundation. So when my old powder brush died (started leaving bristles on my face :S) I went on a hunt for this one, and I mean hunt, FOUR different stores! I don't have much space at the moment so I try not to duplicate on items that I don't need to, but I'm moving house in the new year and will have lots more space, so I may just invest in a few more RT beauties. 

Maybelline Master Kajal Eyeliner in Pitch Black - Boots £5.99
A new product and something I've never tried before, rather reminds me of the Avon Chopstick eyeliners. I'm always on the look out for new eyeliners, so when I saw this I had to try it. I'll let you know how I get on with it. 

and last but not least....
 
Sleeks' 2013 Limited Edition Winter i-Divine Palette in Celestial - Superdrug £7.99
The last of Sleeks four yearly releases for 2013. This is my fourth Sleek palette (Bad Girl, Storm and Vintage Romance being the other three), I loved this at first sight! 11 of the 12 shadows have deep saturated pigmentation, with only one failing to have decent colour payoff. That one being Terrestrial. I swatched it alone and with Nyx's Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk underneath and it definatley requires the base. There is a full review coming soon so I won't say much more!
  
 

I did also venture into Primark, but am planning on doing a seasonal Primark Haul so I haven't included them in this post. I hope you enjoyed seeing my little gift(s) to myself. I would love to know what you think.


See you soon lovelies!


- Harley


QOTP - If you're a queen you're powerless, so I'd probably demote myself and go shopping - Helena Bonham Carter

If you're a queen, you're powerless, so I'd probably demote myself and go shopping. Helena Bonham Carter
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/shopping.html#PzMcddg2v6A0yeqM.99

This or That | The Makeup Tag

  I've some free time, and I spotted this on DarcRose22's blog. The rest is history.

Makeup

Blush or Bronzer?
Blush. I've never really managed to find a bronzer that a) isn't too orange or b) doesn't have pants colour payoff. My skin seems to hate bronzers; Benefit's Hoola doesn't stay on my skin, with or without primer and fixing spray. UD's Naked Bronzer (Flushed palette) doesn't have much colour payoff in my experience. Although, saying that, I have quite strong cheek bones and a defined jaw line, so the need for contour is minimal.

Lipgloss or Lipstick?
Neither, I've never been a big lipstick wearer. Too frightened of dark colours I think, I love the way they look but have never been able to pull them off. I've always preferred balms, so the balm stains (Revlon Just Bitten/Rimmel Colour Rush/Clinque Chubby Sticks) are right up my street. Notwithstanding however, I do have a soft spot for MAC's Angel.

Eyeliner or Mascara?
I can't decide! Neither looks good without the other...so..both! Benefit's They're Real and UD's 24/7 in Zero are my everyday combo.

Foundation or Concealer?
Concealer. I was blessed with relatively clear skin, without many blemishes, so I only use foundation (and a low coverage one at that) when I'm doing a full face look and not an everyday one.

Neutral or Colour Eyeshadow?
Neutrals are easier for me to wear, although I do like dark colours such as purples or navy. I don't think I'm brave enough for oranges and yellows. :(

Pressed or loose eyeshadow?
Pressed. Me + loose eyeshadow = new carpet required.

Nails

OPI or China Glaze?
My job means I rarely get to wear nail polish, so I tend to pass them by when product shopping. I own nothing from either of these brands so cannot form an opinion.

Long or Short Nails?
I prefer long, however, for the same reason as above mine are short. /sadface.

Acrylic or Natural?
I used to wear false nails quite a bit; they damaged my nails and it took me ages to get them to grow strong again. But, in fear of sounding like a broken record, anything but short, unpainted, natural nails are a no-no at work.

Bright or Dark?
On the odd occasions I do paint my nails, the colours I usually reach for are white (Rimmel's Silver Bullet - a white with a slight shimmer), black (Butter London's Union Jack Black) or neutrals (2True in Shade 11 or Ciate Angel Wings).

Flower or no flower?
No flower. I prefer less fussy nail art.

Body

Perfume or Body Spray?
Depends. Pefume for my days off/nights out. Body sprays for everyday and work.

Lotion or Body Butter?
Lotion. Specifically the new in shower one from Nivea. So much time and energy saved. Love love.

Body Wash or Soap?
Body wash. Soap dries my skin out.

LUSH or Other bath companies?
LUSH. Nuff said.

Fashion

Jeans or Sweat Pants?
Jeans. You cannot go wrong with a decent pair of indigo blue boot cuts. Sweat pants should never leave the house, unless, of course, they're in a bag on the way to the gym.

Long or short sleeves?
Short. If a garment has long sleeves chances are they'll end up at my elbows anyway. My arms, they need to be free :P

Dresses or skirts?
Dresses. I don't think I own a skirt. :S

Stripes or Plaid?
I like both, if styled correctly. But from the two...I do have a soft spot for my plaid shirts.

Flip Flops or Sandals?
Flip flops. I prefer the convienience of them as I tend to spend as much summertime as I can barefoot. You can get some really pretty decorated ones everywhere now, rather than the boring old rubber ones.

Scarves or hats?
Hello, my name's Harley and I have an addiction to scarves.

Studs or dangly earrings?
Studs are more versatile, I tend to wear sleepers, studs or a combo on a daily basis. Plus, I have long hair so I find dangly earrings a bit redundant, although I see the attraction in a cheeky earring peaking through a waterfall of hair.

Necklaces or Bracelets?
I wear a necklace permanently (part of my jewellery that I don't take off - also includes some earrings and a couple of rings), although I enjoy layering bracelets.

Jackets or Hoodies?
Leather Jacket over a Hoodie?

Hair

Curly or Straight?
Post-wash, if I don't touch it, I become a frizzball. The frizz doesn't go away if I curl it alone, so I have to straighten before I curl and...well...effort rating ^^. I tend to either only have time/can be arsed to straighten it. GHD's = <3

Bun or ponytail?
/sigh....work regulations again, hair off the collar, so bun. As much as I'd love a ponytail somedays.

Bobby Pins or Butterfly Clips?
Kirby grips. British here! Although, I think theres a grip stealing fairy living in my house. The same one who also collects odd socks.

Hair Spray or Hair Gel?
Hairspray of the low hold variety. Just enough to keep the style without making you sound like a crisp packet when you move your head.

Long or Short hair?
I tend to flick between the two. I have long hair and want it short, I cut it and want long hair again, so I grow it and then want it short again. It's long at present with no current plans to change.

Light or dark?
Dark. Mine's currently a dark cherry red colour. I've been dying it various shades of red for about a decade. I'm a brunette naturally.  

Side sweep or Full on bangs (fringe)?
I did have a side sweep, although it's now grown out. A full on fringe, sadly, doesn't suit my face shape. 

Up or Down?
Either or. I tend to wear up on a daily basis and down for going out.

Random

Rain or Shine?
That weird time in the summer when it's just finished raining and is now warming up again. I love that smell, it's almost as good as the smell you get post-thunderstorm.

Summer or Winter?
Winter. Our summers last about 4 days.

Autumn or Spring?
Autumn. I love being able to layer clothes, and prefer boots to shoes, and my scarves, gotta love me a decent scarf. And dark evenings, candles, fireworks, comfort food, playing in leaves....I love everything about it!

Chocolate or Vanilla?

There's nothing wrong with good old basic vanilla.

- Harley

QOTP - I live by a mans code, designed to fit a mans world, yet at the same time, I never forget that a womans' first job is to choose the right shade of lipstick - Carole Lombard

I live by a man's code, designed to fit a man's world, yet at the same time I never forget that a woman's first job is to choose the right shade of lipstick.
Carole Lombard
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/lipstick.html#tsYSOkh8T9biev1K.99

I live by a man's code, designed to fit a man's world, yet at the same time I never forget that a woman's first job is to choose the right shade of lipstick.
Carole Lombard
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/lipstick.html#tsYSOkh8T9biev1K.99

I live by a man's code, designed to fit a man's world, yet at the same time I never forget that a woman's first job is to choose the right shade of lipstick.
Carole Lombard
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/lipstick.html#tsYSOkh8T9biev1K.99