Beauty products that are cheaper in the US than the UK

If you know me, you'll know that my family live in the US. I haven't been over to them in a few years as flights are bloody expensive and as a struggling graduate in London I haven't been able to afford it. 

However, this year, I made the budget to go! And made the wise choice of going on Amazon US and ordering the following products. 

Here's a breakdown of them and the differences in price.

Firstly, the Babyliss Big Hair which I have eyeing up for months. It goes by the brand ConAir in the US but is the exact same product. I'll have to get an adapter to use it in the UK but considering the savings, it's so worth it. 

UK price, £46. US price, £22. What a no brainer!

Second on the list is the Macadamia Oil Deep Repair Mask. I haven't tried this yet but it's raved about a lot and It's inevitable that I'd buy it eventually. At £13 the US conversion comes in at £11, not the largest savings but hey, every little helps. 



Next is a two pack of the Turbie Twist, £8 for TWO! Considering it's about £6 for ONE by a copy brand, I think this is a great buy. 



I bought two of these Maybelline Eye palattes. At four US dollars each, I figure I may as well. That's just 2 quid. 



Real Techniques are made by a British Makeup artist. No idea why it's less than half price in the US! I've got most of the brushes but topping up the collection with the Expert Face Brush. £8 in the UK, just over £4 in the good ole US of A.



Last but not least is the It's a Ten leave in conditioner. Sans Keratin. Keratin makes my hair feel weird. The 10 OZ comes in at a bargainlicious £12. Considering the 4 OZ is £22 on Amazon UK, it would be stupid not to buy. Actually thinking it may have been silly not to buy two but can always buy another when I'm out there.....

Cream Cheese pasta sauce

This sounds so easy. And it is. 

Yesterday was a long day at work. I needed something quick, yet delicious. 

I had refrigerated ravioli in the fridge but no sauce, pesto, etc. 

However, I did have the following on hand:

Cream cheese

Parmigiana

Garlic

Red chilli

I chucked it all into my mini food chopper with 2 tablespoons of the pasta cooking water and....voilà! 

A tasty yet stimple sauce to throw on pasta. Took less than 6 mins from the time I boiled the kettle to the first mouthful.

Sadly I didn't take pictures but it just resembled a looser cream cheese with specs of red from the chilli. 

Revlon ColourStay Review

I'm aware that I am late to this party... Fashionably late perhaps?

I used this foundation years ago while I was a student and always in search of the heaviest foundation I could get my hands on. I can't recall what I thought of it but I did give it away to a friend, so my impression of it mustn't have been too great.

Then for some reason I got inspired to buy it in Boots a few months ago. I bought the wrong shade though so I had to go back and buy another one in the lightest shade. I was pretty annoyed at myself until I realised that when both shade are mixed, my perfect shade was created!

The first few times I used this I wasn't impressed. I found it caky, heavy and it left cracks on my skin. It completely emphasised my dry spots. I was seriously annoyed at the fact that I had two full bottles to get through!

This did change though when I started using my Real Techniques buffing brush. What a difference a brush can make! It went on my skin seamlessly, no streaks, no plastered finish. Just a really nice flawless finish! I do find that it doesn't last very long though. The foundation does, but the flawless appearance that you get when you first apply doesn't.

Another thing, when you answer the phone or something, foundation goes all over it! Unattractive.

This will never be my everyday foundation as it's a bit too heavy but it's good for a night out or if I feel like a change to my routine. 

It's a Ten Leave In Conditioner review

I love makeupalley.com. I've found so many gems on that site! 

A week or two ago, I ran out of my Revlon Equave leave in conditioner and I fancied using something new. I took to MUA and searched for leave in conditioner, filtering by the most number of reviews written, then looking at the one with the highest score. Thus came about this discovery.

These are the 10 claims this leave in product make:

1.) Repairs dry damaged hair 
2.) Adds shine 
3.) Smoothes & controls frizz 
4.) Seals & protects hair color 
5.) Detangles 
6.) Prevents split ends 
7.) Stops hair breakage 
8.) Creates Silkiness 
9.) Enhances natural body 
10.) Flat iron spray & thermal protector

I was expecting my hair to resemble Jennifer Anistons. You know, completely silky and shiny. Never a hair out of place.
It didn't do that, so the first time I used it, I was a little bit disappointed. However, it does actually do the ten things it claims.

1.) Repairs dry damaged hair - well I can't attest to the long term effects just yet, as I've only used it twice. 
2.) Adds shine - definitely shiny. Not in a Moroccan Oil way but I don't like MO shine, it's completely fake and silicon-esque. The shine from IAT is much more subtle and natural. 
3.) Smoothes & controls frizz - I don't have a frizz problem but it does feel more smooth than if it was au natural.
4.) Seals & protects hair color - I can't really judge this.
5.) Detangles - It does make brushing after washing a lot easier!
6.) Prevents split ends - fingers crossed it prevents but it does conceal. 
7.) Stops hair breakage - as above. 
8.) Creates Silkiness - my hair is too naturally coarse to reach Aniston silky heights but it does make it relatively silky. As silky as it will get anyway!
9.) Enhances natural body - It does, not that I need it as it's very thick. Also seems to enhance the waves in my hair. 
10.) Flat iron spray & thermal protector - don't use irons but I'm sure it does.

It also smells delicious. It smells expensive and anytime I catch a wiff of my hair, it's as if I've just stepped out of  a salon. 

I can't tell if I will repurchase, once I get through the whole bottle I will do a follow up. 

Here are the results of having combed this through, given the roots a rough blow dry and then sleeping on it. 

If you're having a tough or long day...

 Just bear this in mind. It works. 

I love this quote!

It's so inspiring! If I find myself annoyed or feeling stressy over nothing I TRY and remember this quote and, sometimes, those frustrations melt away.

Don't sweat the small things. 

I've finally joined a gym...

About time too.

I don't have major issues with my weight, I'm healthyish and comfortable in my skin but I wouldn't mind a more flat stomach. Wouldn't we all.

I've joined partially to lose a few, but more so to have a hobby and something to do when there's nothing going on.

Hopefully I'll lose a couple of pounds but I am making zero changes to my diet. I'm going to gym it up, 4 times a week for a month to see if I lose weight without diet changes....

So watch this space!