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!

BaByliss Thermo Ceramic Rollers review

Lately I've been in a hair rut.

I stopped straightening it about  8 months ago, so in the last 8 months my hair has perpetually been in a dishevelled Britney-esque bun. Nothing wrong with that but I've been feeling a bit....meh.

So when I saw these rollers selling on Tesco Direct for only £20 I figured I'd get them. I've had rollers in the past and I loved em. I'm not going to be roller-ing my hair everyday or anything but it will be nice on the occasions I'm out for dinner or drinks to actually look like I've made an effort.

So, here we go.

This is the before picture... Quite frightening really.

I haven't updated this because....

There is nothing exciting happening in my life at the moment.

It's all work, work, work. 

I'm moving in 10 days which is terribly exciting so once I've unpacked and settled in, I may post on all the exciting kitchen things I've bought!

Last night, I had a delicious Pizza Express. This weekend I'm going to Ireland for a few nights. 

I've been splashing out on hair products so could write about that!

Peace out. 

It's been two months...

Since I last posted.

I've been contemplating and I'd really like to turn this into a food/recipe blog, with a dash of London lifestyle.

I feel they're already really overdone but hey ho, I'll give it a go!

Oxfam Bookshops

If there's one thing I love, it's a good book. If there's one thing I hate, it's the cost of books these days. Luckily, I have a Kindle which is so handy for buying something instantly and it's much cheaper but I do like having a physical book in my hand.

Plus, how bare will a bookshelf look with one little Kindle sitting on it!

However bare the bookshelf will be, these days when I want a good read, I head to Amazon and hit the eBook aisle. It's so much more practical.

Except for on the rare occasion I stumble across these gems: The Oxfam Bookshop.

I had a meeting in Marylebone a few weeks ago and on the walk back to Baker Street tube, I stumbled across an Oxfam bookshop on the high street. I love browsing them, so in I went.

The place was absolutely massive, the largest I've been in. It was more like a library than a shop. There were aisles dedicated to every single genre. The religion section was larger and had books on every single religion and every single topic. It was about triple the size of the religion aisle in WHSmith. Not that I'm religious or anything, I always like to have a look and see are there any interesting reads on Judaism since my BF is Jewish. I have yet to make a purchase, but still!

The cookery section had about 6 or 7 rows of all different books. From high end chefs to M&S own cooking books. I love Rachael Ray, so when I saw her 30 minute meal book, I had to buy it. It was about £4 which is excellent. The book is in mint condition. I have yet to cook anything from it, but I'll get around to it.

Their fiction aisle was really impressive too, I picked up three novels, one by Marian Keyes who I had never read but now I'm so glad I've discovered! She's amazing. And then two others which were impulse purchases and I haven't really looked at yet.

There were also tons of sections dedicated to every other genre.

So yesterday, I had no plans and I didn't want to spend my day indoors so I took the overground to Highbury and Islington with the intention of hitting their OBS. I got there, walked for ages looking and then once I finally found it, it had been shut down! Thanks for not updating your website!

Undeterred, I hopped on the Northern Line at Angel and made my way to Kentish Town since I needed to make my way to Edgware for dinner.

Finally I got there and whoppeeeeee, they had Marian Keyes! I'm hooked on her. So I got Sushi For Beginners plus a Celia Ahern book as I've never read her novels and Gone Girl (which I was going to download on Kindle anyway, but it was only 99p here). I had to buy another book since my  transaction was under £5. I picked the Clean and Lean Cookbook since it was only £2.49 and I had toyed with the idea of buying it a few weeks ago.

I doubt I'll make much use of it but hey ho, it'll look good in my kitchen.

Can't recommend these gem shops enough if you're a fan of reading.

Freedo

I begrudgingly spent my Saturday afternoon in Camden partaking in a Freedo session. My friend has just split from her boyfriend, so she's looking into the universe for answers. I felt compelled to attend when she asked me along.

We had been out the night before, I went home at 10.30 but she stayed out until 3 so I was praying that she'd be too hungover to attend. Sadly, not the case.

I had no idea what to expect or what this consisted of.

But now that I know, it's a 'life reading'.

My two friends and I had to chose an area of our lives we want to improve... Bear in mind, I turned up 15 minutes late and this is the first question that gets thrown at me. Ummm. I want to redecorate? Not a good answer apparently. My friends chose terms such as love and strength. I knew the reader and I wouldn't be best pals when he deemed my desire to decorate the place I haven't even moved into yet, unacceptable.

We then had to draw a painting of our 'symbol'. My friends came out with artistic designs and drawings. I drew the Nike sign. I have no idea why. It just popped into my head! Then we had to talk to our symbol and write an affirmation that we must repeat daily to reconfirm our new found strength or ability to love via the symbol.

And then, we had to pretend things like the chair were our symbol and describe how it made us feel! I told him I really liked the wallpaper and where could I get a similar print? Cue dirty looks from my friends who are taking this oh so seriously!

It went on and on like this for 2 whole hours! The only good thing about this was, I've been searching for a particular eyeshadow shade which is sold out everywhere, but Superdrug in Camden had it in stock. So it wasn't a complete waste of a trip!

Anyway, hippy chick I am not. Healings are not to be taken seriously. The only symbols I want to affiliate with are the plus and minus ones that tell me how my bank balance are looking.

Nesting

Utterly pointless post that serves no purpose other than to make a list for myself of all the things I want for my new flat.

• A magnetic utensil holder
• A griddle
• A pizza stone
• A Hinari Genie
• George Foreman
• Wine glasses
• 1950s style champagne glasses
• A woven set of storage drawers
• A roasting tray
• A three tier steamer
• A KitchenAid (if I get lucky with a scratchcard)

Donations welcome.

Chinese Yoga - QiGong

I've been toying with the idea of yoga for, well, years now. I never seem to get around to it though. Even last month, I bought a Groupon for unlimited classes for a month but when it was two weeks in and I hadn't so much as made an attempt to go, I returned it and got my £18 back.

But when my friend asked me to accompany her to QiGong in Balham I decided to give it a go. After all, the first class is free and what else am I going to do on a Monday night? Well, preferably treat myself to some wine and a nice meal but there's always Tuesday.

Wikipedia describes QiGong as a practice of aligning breath, movement, and awareness for exercise, healing, and meditation. QiGong practise involves rhythmic breathing coordinated with slow stylised repetition of fluid movement, a calm mindful state, and visualisation of guiding qi through the body.

Right. Guiding qi through the body. I can do that. Sounds as easy as guiding a gin through my oesophagus.

So we get there and my first warning that this isn't going to be the giggle I thought is the fact that besides me and my friend, only one person has showed up. He's clearly popular I thought while musing over his purple outfit. 

The first thing he has us doing is swing our arms from side to side as a little warm up. Except it wasn't so little. This lasted 15 minutes. All the while I had to listen to the instructor talk about feeling the energy moving from the earth. Feel your yang. Move the energy through your chi. Um... I can't even write about this without keeping a straight face. This went on for an hour. The killer though was when a girl fainted and he said, don't worry, it happens. The chi sometimes does that. Your mind can't take all the chi energy. Just move the earth and you'll be fine. I mean seriously!

I was going to write about all the funny stuff he made us do, but I'll leave it at this: never partake in this. This was the worst hour of my life. Save yourself and hit Nandos instead.

Everyone's At It

It's come to my attention that practically everyone I know is blogging. Everyday a new blog is popping up on one of my social network feeds. I feel like a late bloomer. I thought blogging was a thing of the early 00s. Apparently not.

So, I thought I'd try it out. I don't really know what I'm going to blog about because I don't have that many special interests or hobbies. I do read a lot of blogs and I know the internet is saturated with beauty and food blogs and probably every other topic under the sun, so it won't be any of those topics.

I doubt I'll be blogging about my day to day life either as nothing exciting happens to me.

So watch this space! It may very well end up being a collection of my general thoughts and musings, something for me to look back on someday.

If you don't know me (and I'm sure you do or else you wouldn't be reading this), here's a bit about me.

I'm soon to be 23, I've been living in London for the past two years and I work in digital media. Selling national ad campaigns across a group of regional news titles. Doesn't that sound fun? It actually is, I get to go on lots of meetings, scurrying across London feeling like I'm oh-so-important.

I've recently discovered the show Girls which I've been catching up on today. Did you know you don't have to buy the boxset to watch it? Seems obvious, of course but any site I used back in the day got shut down! So I'm thrilled to not have to wait until August for season 2 to come out on dvd.

On that note, I'm off to see what happened to Jessa after that last episode. Until next time!