OOTD (Friday Edition)

Now I'm not one for outfit posts, usually because I can't be bothered to try with my clothes occasionally though I do put some effort into it! This is what I wore shopping to Meadowhall on Friday night. I don't know if I'm pleased I didn't buy anything or sorry! I apologise for the bad quality but I've lost my camera at the moment so have to use my phone!

What does everybody else wear to go shopping?

Pound Shop Nails

Hello!

I thought I'd do a quick Sunday evening post to show you what I've managed to do with my nails using the £1 nail varnish that I got from the pound shop. Here it is after a few days wear.

 Now don't get me wrong it's no masterpiece but it's nice to have something interesting going on with my nails for a change! I hope you've had a lovely lazy Sunday!

Lots of Love

Lauren 

XxXxX

Carmine Beauty Box

Hello There!

I know I am slightly late with a review of the February Carmine box (it being March)! I felt as though I had to as even though the products inside are very good my overall experience hasn't been good.

Let me start with the ordering of the box; I had previously received my first Jolie box and been disappointed as to it's contents so I decided to swap camps and try the Carmine.

After placing my order I received an email stating that my subscription had started and I would receive my first box within  a week (I had decided to start with the February box as I desperately wanted the steam cream). I ordered on the Sunday night and when my box hadn't arrived on Saturday I felt let down as the email clearly stated WITHIN A WEEK!

I emailed customer service (the only means of contact) as on the website it showed that I didn't have a subscription. They explained (two days later- they obviously don't work weekends) that if I was signed in using Facebook it wouldn't show for some reason. This was the case and so when I signed in fully I could see that my box should be coming. It arrived on Monday and being via Royal Mail, I wasn't in so off it went to the depot to wait until Wednesday (the only late opening hours).

At the Post Office depot I was disappointed because my box was ripped. This was a mixture of Royal Mail's fault for rough handling but also the person who had packed my box in it's outer packaging hadn't stuck the clear sticky label that secures the box, on very tight and so it was gaping open and this is where the rip started from. Luckily my inner box wasn't harmed!

I eagerly opened my box- after a gigantic effort (that baby wasn't budging) only to be left feeling disappointed. The reason I had back-ordered a February box was because the steam cream was in February and I have wanted to buy some for a long time but being £10 I didn't want to spend the money on myself- I had bought my mum one as a present which is why I knew how good it would be and I thought £10 for the Carmine box including steam cream plus other goodies made much better sense!

Unfortunately, and to my to my surprise there was no steam cream included! What I actually received was a mixture of products from Dec, Jan and Feb! 

Products from February box

Products from previous boxes sent to me in February's box as an 'alternate' box

I feel very disappointed and let down that I have received the dregs left over from previous boxes and NOT the Feb box I was promised. Overall the products included a really great but the customer experience has not been so far and I still have to spend an extra £10 to go and buy the steam cream now!

I have complained to customer service and will keep you posted. I know a lot of people really love their beauty boxes but from the overall experience of the two I've tried so far I'm thinking that it's probably because they get theirs sent for free. I might even edit this later with a transcript of what Carmine say about my complaint as I think it's important that it's not only the products that are reviewed but the company and service as a whole. Some people will say it's only £10 per month but at the moment I'm trying not to spend so the company should feel like they have to treat me right to keep my business and if it comes to it my home insurance is only a little bit more than this per month an I think I know which I'd rather have!!

Lots of Love

Lauren

XxXxX

Pound Store Haul £$£$£$

I am trying really hard to get out of my overdraft (it's tough)! It's like your saving but for nothing because you're saving so you don't owe the bank money. I am living within my means but that just equates to always going back up to the same amount into my overdraft.

Anyway, I don't want to frighten you with my financial woes but in that theme of saving and thriftiness I recently visited the pound shop- which (I'm sure you don't need me to tell you) for Americans would be the dollar store. I actually found some pretty good things in the beauty section- small though it was!

I was after some new lip balm having previously used and loved Palmers cocoa butter lip balm. This balm is really creamy and smells lovely but I am the type of person that really likes to try out new products. The balm I ended up purchasing was actually a scrub and a balm (winter has not been kind to my lips and face) and so I leapt for this product.

 This is a two step system:


Step One: A cream with Vitimin C scrubbly bits in.

Step Two: A minty tingly balm to moisturise and     refresh.

I can't really feel the scrub bits in the cream but I do feel like it is smoothing out my lips and the balm feels really quite luxe. I have been using the scrub every few days and then just topping up with the balm. Not bad for £1!!

I also got some essentials- baby wipes for keeping me feeling refreshed and what can be better than strawberry scented Hello Kitty!!

I also  found these lovely nail art polishes.

I got a pink and a white, these were the only solid colours they had. All the other colours were glitter. The colour is shiny and nice and thick and comes with a really handy fine tip brush which is perfect for little details (I still need lots of practice though)!!

I'll let you know when I have mastered the art of erm nail art! Haha.

For Winters Rains and Ruins Are Over

We had snow last week in the UK and while part of me will always think yay! as I get a bit older I now think ugh! I think this mostly has to do with having to get up and go to work in the cold snow and not play in it like when I was younger (I know this is the reason)!

I enjoy the winter months for snuggling and hot chocolate- I've always said winter is my favourite season but I think Summer could well and truly be a winner. I have alway been someone who hated hot weather but the last year or so I have turned into a sun worshipper! 

In the spirit of my new summer loving I've stripped my nails of the black I''ve been sporting recently in favour of Boujois 10 Days No Chips polish. I can't tell you the colour as it doesn't say but in real life it is slightly more peachy toned than in this picture.

The brush is angled and chunky to help you get a nice thick coat on and the colour is a lovely bright peachy/coral/red my only criticism is that when dry it has no shine so a topcoat is a must and not that we believed them for a second but it doesn't last 10 days without chipping.

 

Now along with my new summery nails I also purchased a lipgloss from the Boots 17 range- Ultimate Volume in Peach Melba. This is a lovely bright peachy/coral colour that is perfect for putting me in a sunny mood and Is what I plan to wear on my big night out on Friday night!

And here it is swatched and on my lips. I think that to really show the colour I'll put ir over MAC's shy girl and have a nude lip with a coral tint!

 

I'm really looking forward to wearing both of these together and now can't wait for Friday night- outfit post to follow!!

Loads of Love
Laurenxxx