Beauty Secret # six hundred and eighteen
I went shopping recently, because increased stress due to exams can only really be remedied by retail therapy. I bought a brown satin embroidered Chinese-style dress (New Look, and an absolute steal) and chocolate-brown heels to match (and they'll also do for work, which makes them a necessity rather than a frivolity). I also got a grey checked work skirt, which is, once again, a necessity as I discovered that the vast majority of my skirts were unsuitable (read: I don't like them anymore and so I'm not wearing them).
Before you accuse me of randomly splurging money, I'm going to pre-empt that by saying that I work in a client-facing industry that requires me to spend increasing amounts of my time representing my firm. Last year, I spent most of winter in college, which means that the winter clothes I have are all of the trousers / sweaters variety. That's fine for college, but I needed something a little sharper for final meetings and start-up presentations, hence the increase in expenditure on clothes and shoes. I can't quite afford them at the moment, but come pay-rise time in January (and again in July), I'm going to be sitting a lot prettier so I figure - what the hell.
I also tried L'Oreal's ReFinish Micro-Dermabrasion Kit, which is the cheapest of the micro-dermabrasion home treatments at a mere £15 9compared to the usual £60). I am very, very pleased with it. I've only been using it for a week, so I suspect that it's going to take a little longer to even out my skin tone (it's winter, so my skin is its usual blotchy palette) to the extent that I'm not going to need foundation, but already it feels much smoother and fresher. I've heard that people can be seriously allergic to this stuff, though, so maybe it's best if you try it before you buy it.
The other thing is Origins A Perfect World Antioxidant Moisturiser with White Tea, which I tried from a little free sample given to me ages ago and then convinced my mother to buy for me. The Origins web-site has it at £27.50 - get it there, because it was £34.50 at John Lewis and most other department stores. But this moisturiser is amazing, as I have very problematic, demanding skin, and it was rich without being overwhelming. It also didn't result in that oily sheen later on in the day that heavier moisturises often seem to encourage, which makes me insanely happy. Get yourselves down to your local department store and snaffle a free sample.
I may have raved about this before, but I would expire without Helena Rubinstein's Collagenist Lip-Zoom. Now, I've been blessed with pretty full lips anyway, but unfortunately they are dry and require a lot of TLC. Lip glosses and salves can only go so far - they make the lips look healthier, but if you want that extra plumpness (Like Benefit's Lip Plumb, but without the dryness), get a little of this on your lips and pucker up. Instant Jolie-lips. A little goes a long way, too - I got a tester ages ago, and it's still not run out.
I'm also gonna sing the praises ofMason Pearson, although I bet that you've all availed yourselves of their utter fabulousness already. This is, without a doubt, the most amazing hairbrush I have ever owned. When I had super-long hair it was an amazing detangler, and now, with short hair, it makes brushing it a pleasure rather than a chore. Go get yourselves one of these, if there isn't one on your dresser already.
Before you accuse me of randomly splurging money, I'm going to pre-empt that by saying that I work in a client-facing industry that requires me to spend increasing amounts of my time representing my firm. Last year, I spent most of winter in college, which means that the winter clothes I have are all of the trousers / sweaters variety. That's fine for college, but I needed something a little sharper for final meetings and start-up presentations, hence the increase in expenditure on clothes and shoes. I can't quite afford them at the moment, but come pay-rise time in January (and again in July), I'm going to be sitting a lot prettier so I figure - what the hell.
I also tried L'Oreal's ReFinish Micro-Dermabrasion Kit, which is the cheapest of the micro-dermabrasion home treatments at a mere £15 9compared to the usual £60). I am very, very pleased with it. I've only been using it for a week, so I suspect that it's going to take a little longer to even out my skin tone (it's winter, so my skin is its usual blotchy palette) to the extent that I'm not going to need foundation, but already it feels much smoother and fresher. I've heard that people can be seriously allergic to this stuff, though, so maybe it's best if you try it before you buy it.
The other thing is Origins A Perfect World Antioxidant Moisturiser with White Tea, which I tried from a little free sample given to me ages ago and then convinced my mother to buy for me. The Origins web-site has it at £27.50 - get it there, because it was £34.50 at John Lewis and most other department stores. But this moisturiser is amazing, as I have very problematic, demanding skin, and it was rich without being overwhelming. It also didn't result in that oily sheen later on in the day that heavier moisturises often seem to encourage, which makes me insanely happy. Get yourselves down to your local department store and snaffle a free sample.
I may have raved about this before, but I would expire without Helena Rubinstein's Collagenist Lip-Zoom. Now, I've been blessed with pretty full lips anyway, but unfortunately they are dry and require a lot of TLC. Lip glosses and salves can only go so far - they make the lips look healthier, but if you want that extra plumpness (Like Benefit's Lip Plumb, but without the dryness), get a little of this on your lips and pucker up. Instant Jolie-lips. A little goes a long way, too - I got a tester ages ago, and it's still not run out.
I'm also gonna sing the praises ofMason Pearson, although I bet that you've all availed yourselves of their utter fabulousness already. This is, without a doubt, the most amazing hairbrush I have ever owned. When I had super-long hair it was an amazing detangler, and now, with short hair, it makes brushing it a pleasure rather than a chore. Go get yourselves one of these, if there isn't one on your dresser already.