SS13 Sales Shopping: Topshop, Dorothy Perkins, River Island, Next

Hey loves!

Hope you're all well :-)

Recently, I've been doing a spot of sales shopping - I say a spot, I mean a lot - and have picked up some mega bargains!

Some of it I picked up in store, others I picked up online but ALL of it with take into SS13 in style :-) most of it was half price or less so I'm chuffed with what I picked up! Check out what I bought here...

Next:

Can you believe I brought a load of stuff back?! Here's what made the cut...

Black lace blouse - WAS £26 NOW £12

The first item I picked up was this gorgeous lace top blouse - apologies for the creases! It's perfect for work as it's stylish and practical and I've been wearing it with plain black skinny jeans.

Cream lace blouse - WAS £26 NOW £12

I also bought the cream version of the blouse as I figured it would be perfect for taking me into spring, with a pair of lilac skinny jeans or floral skater skirt.

Nude pointed heels - WAS £30 NOW £12

THIS is where my patent pointed heels obsession started! I'd seen all the celebs wearing them - namely Kim K! - and I knew I needed a pair! They're perfect for dressing up a look or taking it from day to night.

Nude platform courts - WAS £30 NOW £14

I actually already have this exact pair of heels - Next, no less - but I wear them all the time and they're pretty worn down so thought I'd invest in another pair!

Cream lace pashmina - WAS £16 NOW £8

I'm a big fan of pashminas in the spring / summer as I get cold easily so this is ideal for adding a touch of warmth and style at the same time.

Floral slipper boots - WAS £16 NOW £8

A girl can never have too many slippers, right? These floral print slipper boots are perfect for taking me into spring.

Tan leather iPad case - WAS £30 NOW £14

Tan leather Kindle case - WAS £18 NOW £8

Both absolute bargains, these real leather iPad / Kindle cases are stylish, durable and practical. I'm a bit obsessed with tan leather as well so they match my Filofax in my handbag... Geek :-)

Tan leather clutch bag - WAS £28 NOW £14

This is actually an iPad case but I use it as a clutch bag. It's really versatile and can be added to any look.

Black statement necklace - WAS £14 NOW £6

I have recently adopted a new motto - you can never have too many statement necklaces! This is more one for autumn / winter but it's great for adding a touch of glam to a nighttime look.

Marilyn Monroe make-up bag - WAS £5 NOW £2

OK, so I don't technically *need* another make-up bag, but it's cute, has Marilyn Monroe on the front and it was only two quid...

Earmuff headphones - WAS £12 NOW £6

These were so handy in the winter! It saved me carrying around a pair of headphones AND a pair of earmuffs in my already bursting bag. They were a little quiet, though.

River Island:

Like with Next, I bought a *load* of stuff from River Island, but only decided to keep these two. That's good for me!

Sleeveless neon shirt - WAS £20 NOW £10

I already have this shirt in the black shade and it fits really well. I like to wear sleeveless shirts like these and adding a cardigan/blazer on top that can be taken off it it gets too hot. This coral version will add a pop of colour to a sunny springtime look.

Floral t-shirt dress - WAS £35 NOW £10

This dress is a little deceiving as it's longer at the back than it is at the front. I've seen a lot of celebs wearing dresses like these on the red carpet - Marion Cotillard springs to mind - and I think it looks really chic. I wore this frock to a friend's 21st birthday meal and I think it suited the occasion pretty well, but it would look equally good on a packed dancefloor with a pair of neon heels.

Dorothy Perkins:

Tuxedo blazer - WAS £40 NOW £22

Demi Lovato inspired me to get a tuxedo jacket like this as she always looks so good in them when she wears them with her Topshop Leigh skinnies. I'll be styling it the same way - although I think it would dress up a simple LBD as well.

Leather sleeve biker jacket - WAS £49 NOW £25

I've seen loads of celebs - Jennifer Lawrence, Amanda Seyfried etc - wearing these jackets with leather sleeves and I just love them. I'm a massive fan of the leather trend and I don't need an excuse to wear it! This simple jacket with leather sleeves will go with everything in my wardrobe.

Kardashian Kollection dress - WAS £40 NOW £20

Another Kardashian inspired purchase! I saw Kim wearing the black version at Westfield Shepherds Bush when they launched their Kardashian Kollection range at Dorothy Perkins and it looked amazing on her. I already have a black bandage dress in a similar style so I opted for the emerald green version instead. With the shade being Pantone's Colour of 2013, I knew it would take me into spring in style. I'll be wearing it with nude patent court shoes, Kim style.

Topshop:

I was a couple of days late with the Topshop sale so I didn't quite get as much as I'd liked. A blessing in disguise I expect, otherwise I'd have bought A LOT more!

Khaki Baxter jeans - WAS £40 NOW £20

I've been wearing these religiously since I bought them - in fact, I'm wearing them right now! Topshop jeans - especially the Baxter jeans in Petite - just fit me really well and last ages. This khaki version are great if, like me, you live in black jeans! They add a bit of colour and interest to an outfit.

Floral peplum skirt - WAS £25 NOW £12

I literally cannot wait to wear this! Peplum shapes tend to flatter my hourglass figure and I'm a big fan of winter florals at the moment. I'll be wearing it with an off-the-shoulder black top and a fuchsia pink lip.

Statement necklace - WAS £12.50 NOW £8.25

Another statement necklace to add a touch of glam to a look. Also, it can be worn with gold OR silver accessories - win!

Floral blazer - WAS £68 NOW £30

Possibly my favourite sale purchase of them all! I've wanted a floral blazer for ages and this one is just perfect. I love the neon detail in it as well as it can be worn with neon accessories or clothing like the River Island blouse (above). I actually bought this blazer in FOUR different sizes just to ensure the fit was perfect. A bit obsessive I know...

Did you pick up anything nice in the sales? Let me know in the comments or over on Twitter :-)

Love,

Sophia

xo

 

Weekend look: Neon and leopard print at KOKO in Camden #neoleo

Hey loves!

Hope you're well :)

Recently I went for a night out at KOKO in Camden (north London) and I donned this ensemble. The club night was Guilty Pleasures and the theme was 90s cheese so I added a pop of neon to my outfit to get in the spirit!

OOTN:

Dress: Topshop

Belt: Vintage

Clutch: River Island

Heels: Blink at New Look

Earrings: Primark

The neon heels (and nails) added a pop of colour to what was otherwise a simple look - and it meant I didn't look out of place in the venue, haha! I also read in Look magazine the week after that teaming neon and leopard print is known as 'neo leo' but I'd never heard that before!

FOTN:

Face: Benefit That Gal primer, Benefit Some Kind-a Gorgeous Foundation Faker, Benefit Boi-ing Concealer, YSL Touche Eclat #1, Benefit Dallas bronzer, Benefit Coralista blush, MeMeMe Sunbeam.

Eyes: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, Urban Decay NAKED Palette, L'Oreal Super Liner Perfect Slim, Benefit They're Real Mascara, Avon Color Trend Kajal Stick.

Eyebrows: MAC Eyeshadow in Espresso. 

Lips: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Nude Lustre.

Hair: Curled using GHD Original Irons, set with L'Oreal Supreme Hold Very Volume Hairspray.

I went for quite a simple beauty look and let the clothes do the talking. Usually I opt for a bold lip but I thought that would clash too much with the neon accessories so kept it sleek and nude instead.

NOTN:

Nails: Models Own - Luis Lemon

I matched my nails with my heels to pull the look together - they were flourescent in the club! Haha.

Would you wear 'neo leo'? Let me know in the comments or over on Twitter :-)

Sophia

x

Avon haul - Clearskin, Planet Spa, Avon Care, Naturals, Advanced Techniques (all under £5!)

Hey ladies :-)

I hope you've had a great day!

Recently I placed an order with my local Avon lady and here's what I picked up. I always try and order something from the Avon book because - having been an Avon lady myself -I know how hard it can be to get people to order and for some people it's their sole source of income. Anyway, the products are always amazing quality and great prices so I don't mind! 

Skincare:

Avon Care 3 in 1 Cleanser, Toner and Moisturiser - £1.25 (4 for £5)

This is an absolute bargain and perfect for travelling as it's three products in one. It's a clear, gel type substance that can be used to remove make-up with a cotton pad.

Avon Clearskin Blemish Clearing Daily Astrigent Lotion - £2

This is something I've used pretty much every day since I bought it because I really feel like it removes all the dirt and grime from my face. It doesn't have a particularly nice smell but I don't mind because it works really well.

Avon Planet Spa Turkish Thermal Baths Clay Face Mask - £3.30

I've always been a massive fan of Avon Planet Spa face masks because they do what they say on the tin. I swear by Avon's Deep Sea clay face mask so I thought I'd try something different and this makes my skin feel amazingly soft! 

Avon Care Sheer Gloss with Jojoba Oil - £1.25 (4 for £5)

Another product I've used pretty much every day since I got it, I like to keep it in my handbag for touch-ups. It leaves just the perfect amount of sheer, natural glossy colour on the lips. I've re-purchased this countless times and would definitely recommend it! 

Make-up:

Glimmersticks Brow Definer in Dark Brown - £3

I'm very particular about my eyebrows but I found this to work really well. It's not the exact colour of my brows (what is?) but it's really blendable so looks natural.

Limited Edition Supershock Mascara in Black - £5

I've re-purchased Avon's Supershock mascara probably about 4/5 times because it makes my lashes really long and thick and it's such a bargain price! I would say it's pretty much as good as Benefit's Bad Gal for about 1/3 of the price. Well worth a try!

In the pic above I'm wearing the Glimmersticks Brow Definer and the Supershock Mascara.

Plump Pout Lipgloss in Nude Pout - £6

This lipgloss is one of my favourite EVER products from Avon! I've had the Plump Pout Lipgloss in Honey Nectar for years now and use it religiously on a night out. It gives your lips that tingly feeling that you know means it's working! I bought it in Nude Pout for nights when I want a more natural shade as Honey Nectar is peachy orange. I would probably buy this in every colour if I could! You have to buy it!

Nails:

Nailwear Pro in Midnight Green - £2.99

I posted a pic of myself wearing this on Instagram recently and it got loads of likes so you guys must like it as much as me! 

It lasted around 2-3 days without chipping but it's a really lovely colour that's perfect for this transition period between winter and spring.

Hair:

Avon Advance Techniques Argan Oil Mask - £3.30

I love my hair to look really glossy and this is perfect for giving it that effect. I use it after I've applied shampoo and conditioner in the shower, comb it through, leave it on for a few minutes and voila... super shiny hair! It's great for getting the Moroccanoil look without the hefty price tag.

Body:

Avon Naturals Lavender and Chamomile Room Spray - £1.25 (4 for £5)

I've had the Lemongrass room spray for many years now and thought it was time for a change! This is lovely and relaxing and gets me in the mood for bed :-)

FOTD:

 In the pic above I'm wearing all the Avon products I bought :-)

What are your favourite Avon products?

Let me know in the comments or over on Twitter.

Sophia x

January empties: MAC, Neutrogena, Johnson's, Lush, Aussie, Paul Mitchell, Dove

Hey gals!

I hope you're all well :-)

Here are the products I used up in January...

Face

Johnson's Daily Essentials Refreshing Facial Cleansing Wipes for Normal Skin

I became pretty obsessed with these face wipes recently! I went through a very lazy phase of just using face wipes and eye make-up remover at the end of the day and these just did the job. They're really soft and moist and do remove make-up well, but I found they caused me to break out the next day.

Neutrogena Blackhead Eliminating Triple Action Cleanser

This is a creamy face wash with tiny little beads in it that I used to clean my face with in the shower. I didn't notice anything special about my skin but then again I didn't notice it getting any worse after using it either.

Johnson's Daily Essentials Gentle Eye Make-up Remover

I was actually quite impressed with this product, especially as it was only a few quid. I'm on the hunt for my Holy Grail eye make-up remover and this is certainly up there with the best of them. It's definitely worth trying for the price.

MAC Fix+

I've seriously gone through so many of these! I'm obsessed. I use Fix+ in my make-up regime daily without fail. I buff it into my skin to prep it for make-up, then I do it again to buff in my foundation and make it look dewy. I then use a final spritz to set my make up. I wouldn't be without it!

Body

Lush Snow Fairy Shower Gel

I'm a big fan of Lush products and Snow Fairy is one of my all time faves. It reminds me of Christmas when I use it! I REALLY want to try It's Raining Men Shower Gel next because I love the scent of Honey I Washed The Kids soap.

Next Pre-Tan Exfoliator

I didn't use this as a pre-tan exfoliator because as you can imagine, with it being winter and all, I haven't done much fake tanning! But I used it in the shower to give me a good scrub and the tiny beads were great at properly exfoliating my skin.

Hair

Head & Shoulders 2 in 1 itchy scalp care

OK so quite an embarrassing problem - and I know I'm not the only one - but I've been suffering quite badly from scalp psoriasis over the past couple of months. I used this to try and treat it but it hardly worked so I'm trying T Gel now. Fingers crossed that works!

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Shine Deep Treatment

Aussie's 3 Minute Miracle Deep Treatments are usually some of my fave hair products but the smell of this was a little off putting. I mean it was OK, but I prefer the signature Aussie scent of the Mega range. That being said, it did help to make my hair feel soft and glossy.

Paul Mitchell Super Strong Liquid Treatment

I really loved this product but it's quite expensive. I spritzed it on towel dried hair and combed it through to make it feel stronger and healthier. I would definitely re-purchase if it weren't for the hefty price tag.

Dove Colour Radiance Leave-in Conditioning and Care Spray

Another really great leave-in conditioner at a much fairer price. It made my hair feel really soft and silky, especially coupled with the Express Conditioner from the same range.

Sally's Reconstructor Treatment Sachet

This gave my hair loads of strength and it felt really smooth after I blow dried it. I would definitely buy it again.

What did you use up this month?

Love,

Sophia

xo

December empties: Pantene, John Frieda, Palmer's, Liz Earle, Rimmel London

Hey ladies!

Hope you're having a great day!

Here's the products I used up in December... *sings Taylor Swift - Back To December...!*

Hair:

John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Intense Conditioner Sachet

I always buy these little sachets as it means I can test the products without having to invest in a full-size version. This made my hair feel soft and silky - I'd definitely re-purchase.

Palmer's Coconut Oil Formula Deep Conditioning Protein Pack

I picked this up from Sally's for about one quid and it's AMAZING! It made my hair feel and smell delicious.

Pantene Full & Thick Conditioning Masque

I found this in Poundland and it was actually pretty good! It was really thick and I only needed a tiny bit on my lengths and ends. I would say I'd re-purchase it, but I've got a feeling it's probably been discontinued if it's in Poundland...

Body:

Fruity Strawberry Shower Gel

This was a Christmas present and it was OK - it did the job! - but it was nothing special.

The Body Shop Cranberry Joy Body Scrub

I LOVED the scent of this! It smelt amazing and it gave me a really good scrub. The beads were tiny and it felt like sand exfoliating my skin.

Face:

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic

I absolutely fell in love with this product! I used it after I cleansed my skin and it really helped clear it up. Next time, I'd probably buy it in the spray version though for practical reasons :-)

Liz Earle Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion

I used this after Cleanse and Polish and it worked really well to remove the last traces of eye make up. As in the name, it was lovely and soothing and the formula wasn't greasy. I would definitely buy it again.

Make-up:

Rimmel Exaggerate Liquid Eyeliner in Black and Brown

This is literally my Holy Grail liquid eyeliner and I must have re-purchased it more than 10 times! I use the Brown shade for a natural, daytime look and the Black for a smoky, evening look.

However I think the Brown shade has been discontinued so I've been on the hunt for a decent, easy-to-use brown liquid liner! Let me know if you find one :-)

What did you use up this month? Let me know in the comments or over on Twitter now!

Love,

Sophia

xo

 

New Year's Eve outfit 2012: Sequin skater dress and MAC Russian Red lipstick

Hey ladies :)

What did you all get up to on New Year's Eve?

I went to one of my best friend's house for a party - here's what I wore for the turn of the year!

OOTN:

Sequin skater dress - ASOS

Spike waist belt - ASOS

Black clutch - Dorothy Perkins (see blog post)

Gold toe heels - Boohoo.com

 

FOTN:

Face: Aldi Lacura Shimmering Day Cream, YSL Touché Éclat, Benefit Boi-ing concealer, Estée Lauder Doublewear concealer, Benefit Some Kind-a Gorgeous foundation, Benefit Dallas bronzer, Benefit Coralista blush, Benefit high beam.

Eyes: MAC Painterly paint pot, Urban Decay NAKED Palette - Buck, Sidecar, Hustle, Rimmel Exaggerate liquid eyeliner, Avon Color Trend kajal stick on lower waterline, Benefit They're Real mascara.

Eyebrows: HD Brows Palette in Vamp.

Lips: MAC Russian Red lipstick, No7 clear lipgloss.

NOTN:

Art Deco ceramic nail lacquer in #69, Models own silver glitter nail varnish as accent nail.

What did you wear this New Year's Eve?

Love,

Sophia

xo

 

Christmas presents 2012

Hey loves!

I hope you had a fabulous Christmas and New Year :)

I've loved reading what everyone got for Christmas so I thought I'd share what gifts I received with you...

Beauty:

Clockwise from L-R:

Kim Kardashian Gold EDT

I already have Kim's original fragrance so I knew I had to have this one too! I think I actually prefer it to the normal one :) I'm no good at describing fragrances but let's just say if you're a Kim K fan like me you will LOVE it!

Yankee Candle Pink Sands

This is one of my favourite scents from Yankee Candle and now I have the massive version of it, yay! I like to buy the tiny Yankee Candles so I learn which one I like best and then buy the bigger version :)

Vaseline set of 3 giant tin

This gift set contained an original tin, rosy lips version and aloe vera scent. They're perfect for popping in your handbag but the giant tin has also come in really handy for storage!

Zara Chocolate perfume

I've only had a little sniff of some of the Zara scents but I've never seen this one - it smells of cocoa, yum!

Yves Saint Laurent Touché Éclat foundation

I was very lucky to receive this foundation as it's been on my wish list for yonks! I swear by the Touché Éclat concealer pen so I have high hopes for its foundation equivalent.

Molton Brown minis set

I'm constantly travelling, staying over people's houses etc so this set of minis is really handy! They smell delish too :)

Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation

The blogger hype around this foundation has been hard to miss! I popped this into my Dad's trolley as it was just £5 in Wilko's, bargain!

Bomb cosmetics soap

I've not used anything from this brand before but I've heard it's similar to Lush - which I LOVE - so I'm looking forward to seeing if it's any good :)

Hair:

GHD Air hair dryer

I've been using a travel hairdryer since my normal one sparked nearly a year ago so this hairdryer was a godsend! I've used it a couple of times already and my God it's amazing! I have really thick, long hair that takes an age to dry but this makes it SO much quicker!

Babyliss Big Hair

I had a go at using this but I had a bit of a 'mare! I think it will take a little practice to perfect - I've heard Tanya Burr has done a YT tutorial on using it so I may have to watch that ASAP!

Enrapture Encode Totem Styler

I generally use my GHD straighteners to curl my hair but I heard these were pretty good so I'm looking forward to trying them. What's your favourite combination?

DVDs:

The Inbetweeners box set

I remember watching The Inbetweeners when I was at uni years ago before anyone had seen it and found it hilarious at the time! I'm not surprised it's been so successful. I can't wait to just stay in and watch episodes of this over and over!

Cinderella DVD

I'm building up a collection of Disney DVDs and this very almost completes my collection! Yay :-D

Toy Story box set

Because I'm cool...

Books:

Cheryl Cole autobiography

I actually got two copies of this - big Chezza fan! She's a huge idol of mine so I can't wait to read all about Ashley, Derek, Simon etc.

Caitlin Moran - How To Be a Woman

My mum got this for me and I've heard it's hilarious so fingers crossed I like it!

McFly Unsaid Things story

I've been a McFly fan since the early days - I have all the albums! - so I can't wait to hear all about their lives and relationships :)

I also got given a purse from the Kardashian Kollection which I obvs LOVE!

What did you get for Christmas? Send me your links!

Love,

Sophia

xo