Showing posts with label Shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shopping. Show all posts

Monday, 21 October 2013

Mini Drugstore Haul!




        It's official.....fall is here, and winter is creeping up right around the corner. And both my skin and hair know it. This is the time of year where the products I use during the spring and summer officially stop working, and I need to put them aside and double up on moisture. I've witnessed the first dry patches of the season on my face, and I am not happy. It was definitely time for a trip to the drugstore.

I've actually never tried any of these products before, and they range from somewhat high end to the very cheapest you can get. 

I am really looking forward to trying the Biosource Hydra-Mineral Cleanser Toning Mousse I purchased from Biotherm, because I've never tried a product like it. This one is for normal to combination skin and has 150 ml of product. It's supposed to have a 70 mineral complex and balances your skin with zinc. It says that it will tone without drying out your skin, and that within 7 days your skin will radiate with a healthy glow. I nearly bought the same cleanser in the pink tube instead, which is the dry skin version. However, the sales girl told me that even though I'm getting dry skin now, it doesn't mean I have a dry skin type, and should stick to the cleanser for combination skin. I hope she's right, as I really need hydration right now! It seems to come out almost like a light clay mask, which is interesting for a cleanser. It spreads smoothly and feels nice on the skin.

Next, I needed to pick up something heavier than my Neutrogena Natural's Multi-Vitamin Nourishing Moisturizer, as I'm currently not using any sort of a night cream. So instead of picking up the corresponding night cream, I chose the L'Oreal Paris Ideal Moisture Radiant Tone Day/Night Cream for all skin types. I'm a little concerned that this one may not be heavy enough for my skin right now. However, I decided to try it because it's meant to smooth the texture of your skin and reduce imperfections. Texture is something that I seem to have an issue with, especially on my forehead and around my nose where my pores are large. I also don't like the feeling of anything too heavy on my face, so I wasn't sure if I wanted to go for a full on night cream. So, we'll see if this works for me. I think I only like the smell of L'Oreal's face creams because they remind me of my mom. Otherwise, they don't do much for me! Anyway, it was on sale, so let's try it out and see if I like it!




There are SO many bloggers who go on and on about Wet and Wild, and how amazing it is for the price. There have actually been quite a few comparisons to brands like Urban Decay in terms of eyes shadows. I decided to just pick up a new top coat, so I got the Wet and Wild Wild Shine Clear Nail Protector for under $2.00. What I was most excited to see, was the collection that Wet and Wild created with Fergie, called Fergie Nail Colour. I've heard good things about it, so I chose the colour Gold Album. I've been wanting a gold nail polish for a while as I don't have any. Even though I love my Butter London, I don't necessarily think the more expensive the nail polish, the better it is. It would be great for me price-wise if I could get into these!

Lastly, I purchased Bed Head's Self Absorbed Mega Nutrient Conditioner. Lately I've only been buying products that are specifically for colour treated hair, but on the back it does mention that it's great for out of shape, chemically treated hair. My hair isn't as out of shape as it used to be, but it still definitely needs the extra hydration. It's meant to add body and shine, as well as work out tangles and feed dry ends. You can use this as a regular conditioner, or as a treatment that you leave on for about 3-5 minutes. I've only ever seen this conditioner in this size (250 ml) so hopefully a little goes a long way. It has a refreshing, citrus-like scent to it. I have high hopes for this product!


HAVE A GREAT NIGHT! xx



Friday, 11 October 2013

Christmas Shopping on a Student's Budget!

          If you're anything like me, you will be starting your Christmas shopping around the mid to the end of October. This may seem a bit ridiculous to some, but when you have a lot of people to buy for, Christmas creeps up on you all too quickly. Therefore, this is the time I start collecting the smaller parts of Christmas gifts, and only items that I know have no chance of being returned after Christmas!

These past few Christmas's have been known to raise a bit of an issue budget-wise, seeing as I've been in college and have had to primarily live off of student loans. Sure, I could have bought slightly cheaper gifts for my friends and family, but I'm one of those people that regardless of my financial situation, I don't like to skimp on quality (not always the best trait to have financially!) So, if you're in a similar situation, what do you do so you don't go broke during the holiday season? Here are some great tips to avoid breaking the bank this season, and still purchase great quality gifts that your friends and family will love.

1) SHOP ONLINE

I have found the most amazing deals in online stores. Many people aren't a fan of shopping online, as they will argue that shipping costs are not worth it, or there are limited stores that ship to their country. However, there are almost always ways to get around shipping costs once you locate the multitude of stores that DO ship to every country, or to your particular country. The majority of online stores offer free shipping for a purchase of $50 or more, which is a good excuse to stock up on Christmas gifts at that particular store.

There are also frequent online sales that are not offered in stores. My favourites are the additional percentage off of items that are already on sale, usually adding up to a savings of 60% or more. Stores like Urban Outfitters and Forever21 often offer these types of sales, and will alert you through their online newsletters when these sales are beginning.

Just a note: If buying clothes, make sure you look at the size chart on the website. As we know, different brands tend to fit differently, and can run big or small. I have never had a problem with purchasing clothes online if I have stuck to the size chart. If by some chance the item does not fit the person you are buying it for, there are almost always return options where the store will pay the price of the return. It can be helpful if you are purchasing from an online store that also happens to be a retail chain in your area, as you are usually able to take the item back to this store for a full refund or exchange.


2) COUPON CODES

Whether in-store or online, retail stores almost always have one or two coupon codes available for you to save money. However, some are harder to find then others. Always have a search online before you go out to make your purchases, or before you make a purchase on an online store. I frequently purchase from online stores, and have not yet completed an order before entering in a coupon code that I've found online. 

Always sign up for online newsletters from your favourite stores, as they will often send you these coupon codes straight to your email. There are many codes out there that are kept more under wraps, that you can search for on any search engine. Just type promotion/coupon code and the store you're looking to save from into a search engine, and more than half the time you will at least find a code for the online store. These coupons average anywhere from an extra 10-30% off your order. This extra few minutes of effort before making purchases is definitely worth it!

3) DO YOUR RESEARCH

There are so many great stores out there that not enough people know about that sell good quality and unique items both in store and online, and offer amazing prices. Retail markets are a great way to find unique and affordable items. Kensington Market, St Lawrence Market and the Distillery District in Toronto, Ontario are all amazing places to find these types of gifts if you look around. Warehouses and outlet stores are also a great way to save money. 

There are a ridiculous amount of stores online that few know about that I've only discovered through blogs or places like Pinterest. They have often lead to stores that offer free shipping worldwide, and have unbeatable prices for decent quality clothes that are all on trend. Taking the time to do research and scour the Internet when you have some some spare time can definitely be worth it financially. 

March Favourites 2014! ♥

           Welcome to my March favourites 2014! As showcased in my YouTube video below, I had a decent amount of products to share with you...