What I Bought in the Christmas Sales

I was lucky enough to receive some money for Christmas so I decided to treat myself and buy some things which I would have loved to receive at Christmas. At midnight on Christmas Day, I was on Space NK waiting for the half price sale. I think I managed to pick up two really good deals and I cannot wait for them to arrive and start using them (after I've photographed them of course!) As well as purchasing a newbie which wasn't in the sale but I needed a new cleanser. 

Firstly, I bought my very first Diptyque perfume which I am extremely excited about and I managed to get it for £34 instead of £68! I actually chose it without smelling it which I think is very brave of me but the description sounded beautiful and I couldn't resist. Do you own L'ombre Dans L'Eau? What do you think of it? My second Space NK purchase was my very first Laura Mercier product(s). I managed to grab the Creme Brulee Bath & Body set for £15 instead of £30. Bargain! I cannot wait to have a luxurious bath when it arrives. Lastly, I needed a new cleanser so I decided to have a look at what Space NK had to offer in terms of skincare. REN is a brand I haven't tried before but I've only heard good things. I decided to pick up the Rosa Centifolia Foaming Cleanser. It wasn't in the sale but I decided to give it a try anyway. 

Next up, on Friday, I braved the crowds and headed to The Trafford Centre. I obviously headed to Boots for the infamous half price sale. I have to say, I was fairly well behaved as I had spent £62 on Space NK. Here's what I managed to pick up from Boots, Lush and Cath Kidston. 

From Boots, I picked up this delicious smelling candle and diffuser set in the scent mulled wine and cinnamon. I was going to save it for next year but I have already displayed them in my living room, I couldn't resist. I haven't lit the candle yet but if I want to, I won't stop myself. It was only £7.50 in the sale for both. I also picked up a real bargain from Origins! I'm actually so excited about this find! It was the last one in Boots and I'm not surprised. It's the Merry Moisturisers set, which contains Make A Difference Plus + Rejuvenating Moisturiser which is £34 alone, Make A Difference Plus + Rejuvenating Treatment Lotion, Make A Difference Rejuvenating Hand Treatment and Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask. I'm so excited to try everything in this set and I got a real bargain at £19 instead of £29! Finally, I picked up a 2014 diary in the form of this adorable Winnie The Pooh design. I am going to use it to plan blog posts and I have already made a start! 

My next stop was Cath Kidston where I picked up a large zip wallet to store make up products in my handbag and a glasses case as I recently got some new glasses and the case that Boots gave me is uninspiring. My final destination was Lush where I managed to pick up a Magic Wand Bubble Bar for £2.47. I haven't used this before but it smells amazing and is making my whole house smell incredible. 

I enjoyed the sales this year but I do wish I had the patience to raid rails as I could have done with some new clothes. Oh well, maybe next year! 

What did you pick up in the sales? Did you get any serious bargains?

Rachel x
Lost In Lipstick

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What I Got For Christmas 2013

I wanted to do one of these posts last year but I just didn't get the chance to but as I have loved seeing what everyone else got for Christmas, I thought it would only be fair to share what I got too. I struggled to photograph everything as the lighting has been so bad recently plus I didn't know where to shoot them and I actually tried two other places before settling on under the Christmas tree! I kind of like how they have turned out even though the lighting is still terrible but it's quite appropriate being under the tree. 

Once we were awake on Christmas morning, me and Rory exchanged presents. We had decided not get each other anything as we are getting married in August and need all the pennies we have for that! However, we obviously couldn't resist and ended up getting a few bits for each other. Rory managed to pick up the infamous Soap & Glory gift set when it was half price - hooray - and he knew I wanted my own external hard drive with lots of memory so I didn't have to ever delete any pictures or songs! I now own one in my favourite colour - pink! Thank you Rory.

Christmas isn't Christmas without receiving socks and pyjamas etc. and this year didn't fail. I received these cute giraffe pyjamas and bootie slippers from my mum and dad and this super fluffy pink dressing gown from my gran. Some highlights include Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Fresh Moisture Mist to match my perfume, Cath Kidston tea towel set, a beautiful Topshop jumper and a velvet Topshop skirt. I also received lots of chocolate, which may have been eaten before I could photograph it. Rory managed to eat a whole selection box for breakfast! I also received some money which I've already spent in the sales. Stay tuned to see what I managed to buy. 

I had such a perfect Christmas this year and I loved giving presents as well as receiving them. I was spoilt with all my gifts and I'm so thankful and grateful to all my friends and family. Christmas is a time to spend with loved ones and we still have some family left to see in the New Year so we can do it all over again! I hope you all had a fabulous Christmas and I hope Santa brought you everything you wanted. 

Merry Christmas!

Rachel x
Lost In Lipstick

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Week 52

1 sleep till Christmas - Christmas Eve! // Obsessed with The Snowman and the Snowdog game // Merry Christmas - Father Christmas has been! // Christmas dinner // Christmas tree shape made from tea lights // Cosy in my new Pyjamas, slippers and dressing gown // Boxing Day buffet // Festive cakes // Sensory play room

Hi Lovelies,

A belated Merry Christmas to everyone who reads my blog. I wanted to post something on Christmas Day but I just didn't get chance too. Christmas is always a busy time of year and Christmas Day/Boxing Day was no exception this year. Christmas Day involved seeing both my parents and Rory's parents and I had my Christmas dinner and my mum and dad's. I put on a buffet for Boxing Day so that day was spent preparing the house as well as food. It was successful and all the food was delicious, even if I do say so myself! Everyone was too full so we didn't get chance to start on the cheese and biscuits. To make up for it we're going to have a cheese and wine party on New Years Eve!

This is my last Instagram post for 2013! I can't believe I have actually posted one every week for a year (even if some have been a couple of days late!) I'm going to continue the tradition into 2014 as it provides me with a nice opportunity to look back on what I've been up to as well as sharing life updates with you. I think I'm going to change the style slightly but I don't know how yet. I would like to post the images directly onto my post rather than in a mosaic form but I tried a few weeks ago and because the image is less than 600px wide, they get stretched and look distorted. Can anyone help with this problem? Also I'm thinking of starting the count back at 1 instead of carrying of with 53. What do you think?

What have you been up to this week?

If you want to follow me on Instagram, my username is lostinlipstick. If you do follow me, make sure you leave your username below. I love finding new people on Instagram.

Rachel x 

Lost In Lipstick

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Sleek Corrector and Concealer Palette in Shade 02 - Review

Sleek Corrector and Concealer Palette in Shade 02

I couldn't resist this cute little palette and it's so handy for travelling. It contains a corrector, a concealer and a setting powder. I think there are five different palettes; 01, 02, 03, 04 and 05. I bought mine from my local Superdrug and the lightest they had in stock was 02. Currently, the Superdrug website only lists palettes 02, 03, 04 and 05 so if you're after the lightest shade, you'll  have to see what your local Superdrug has in stock. 

To be honest, as much as I want to love this palette, I just can't. The first shade is for correcting any dark circles under the eye but I find it too light. The second shade is the concealer, which neutralises any discolouration, however, I find it too dark for my skintone.  I'm not sure if I need to use palette 01 or palette 03 instead but surely 01 would be even lighter and 03 would be far too dark. I know it can't suit everyone as there are only 5 palettes and so many different skintones but I didn't think the corrector and concealer would be so far apart. The palette also contains a setting powder, which isn't great either. I find it very chalky and there is a lot of fall out so I get powder all over my dressing table. 

The formula of the corrector and concealer is fairly creamy and I have used both a brush and my fingers to apply it. My personal preference is that I prefer to use my fingers with this product as it blends better with the heat from my fingertips. Also, I've washed the brush that I used, about 4 times, and it still has product inside it. I hope I haven't ruined a beloved Real Techniques brush! 

I wouldn't purchase the palette again unless other shades were added to the line. It's such a shame there are only 5 different variations. I reckon it would be a beauty blogger fave if it catered for more skintones as it's such a handy little palette. 

P.S. Did you know Boots now stock Sleek make up? 

Rachel x

Lost In Lipstick

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Week 51

7 sleeps till Christmas! // #bxic challenge day 15 - Make up brushes // #bxic challenge day 16 - Something pretty - Victorian Carousel at Barton Square, Trafford Centre // The Grinch // The Snowman // #bxic challenge day 17 - Santa - My pretty napkins for Christmas

Hi Lovelies,

It's been one heck of a busy week and I'm sure everyone else's week has been the same. I'm way behind on my Instagram challenge and I will catch up but I don't want to post too many images in one week. It was my last day of work on Friday and now I have two lovely weeks off :) It was an eventful Friday though. We took 200+ children to see Dick Whittington at The Opera House in Manchester. It was amazing though and the children thoroughly enjoyed it. If you can still get tickets, I highly recommend it.

This week, I've done so much shopping for both presents and food. I'm doing a buffet on Boxing Day for my family like last year so my fridge is now full. Although I'm not sure how much will be left by then as I've already opened the pork pies and sausage rolls! I don't want to step foot in another supermarket for at least a week and I don't want to wrap another present till next Christmas! I'm all wrapped out. Seriously, I have spent so much time over the last few days wrapping everyone's present. They look beautiful under my tree though so it's all worth it.

Yesterday, I was fuming. I still am to be honest. Three days before Christmas, three, half of my Christmas tree lights decided to stop working. I refuse to take everything off and redo it so close to Christmas but I still looked in three shops today and none of them had any lights left. Well B&M had some but in horrendous colours and I only like white lights. Therefore I will have to put up with a tree that only has lights on the top half or none at all. But that doesn't look as pretty :(

What have you been doing to celebrate the Christmas countdown?

If you want to follow me on Instagram, my username is lostinlipstick. If you do follow me, make sure you leave your username below. I love finding new people on Instagram.

Rachel x 

Lost In Lipstick

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Week 50

#bxic challenge day 9 - Currently listening to Michael Buble //  I'm looking forward to watching all the Christmas films! // #bxic challenge day 10 - Eyes (I wish I could make my eyes look like this!) // #bxic challenge day 11 - My favourite flowers - peonies // Only 10 sleeps till Christmas! // #bxic challenge day 12 - My favourite perfume - Chance by Chanel // #bxic challenge day 13 - All wrapped up // #bxic challenge day 14 - My best friend // Delicious pizza from Prezzo

Hi Lovelies,

I'm well and truly in the Christmas spirit! I cannot believe that there are only 9 sleeps until Christmas day! (Yes, I am a big kid and count the sleeps!) I actually still have a few presents to buy and I have all of them to wrap as I don't have any wrapping paper. I'm hoping to call somewhere after work tomorrow and get some, then I can spend tomorrow night watching a Christmas film and wrapping presents. How good does that sound?!

Only 4 more get ups for work and then I'm off for 2 weeks! Yay! I am actually wishing my life away as it doesn't seem like 7 weeks ago I was off in October because I've been on countdown for this holiday ever since! I still haven't finished decorating since then either as I only have gloss left and I hate that part. Do I have any volunteers? Haha. Seriously the smell is horrible and it stays around for days. Any tips as hopefully I will be able to finish it off this holiday. 

What have you been doing to celebrate the Christmas countdown?

If you want to follow me on Instagram, my username is lostinlipstick. If you do follow me, make sure you leave your username below. I love finding new people on Instagram.

Rachel x 

Lost In Lipstick

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Novelty Christmas Jumpers

1. Pale Blue Christmas Pudding Jumper £20.99 New Look

2. Sequin Stag Jumper £16 George

3. Navy Blue Snowman Jumper £12.99 Ebay

4. Grey Sequin Penguin Jumper £17.99 New Look

5. Black Flying Reindeer Jumper £21 Miss Selfridge

6. Green Festive Scene Jumper £12 Primark

7. Red Knitted Gingerbread Man Jumper £42 Topshop

8. Black Gingerbread Man Jumper £18.74 New Look

Have you got a novelty Christmas jumper? Is one on your shopping list?

Rachel x

Lost In Lipstick

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Week 49

#bxic challenge day 2 - the perfect Christmas lipstick // #bxic challenge day 3 - Yankee Candle Christmas Wax Tart Burner // #bxic challenge day 4 - A screenshot of my beautiful nephew, having fun on the swing // #bxic challenge day 5 - Ginger Sparkle hand cream // #bxic challenge day 6 - sky at Manchester Christmas Markets // Jack & the Beanstalk Pantomime // #bxic challenge day 7 - Outfit Of The Day & Outfit Of The Night // #bxic challenge day 8 - Something that sparkles // My nephews 2nd Birthday

Hi Lovelies,

A lot of my Instagram pictures this week are from the challenge I'm taking part in. The hashtag is #bxic if you want to see what it's all about. It does have a Christmas theme but for the days that aren't obviously Christmassy, I've been trying to incorporate Christmas into them. So far I'm enjoying it, even though I'm already behind and we're only 10 days in!

I can tell we're getting closer to Christmas (15 more sleeps!) I'm so busy all of the time lately. I feel like I don't have a minute to breathe. This blog post is going up a lot later than I wanted it to (almost two days late!) as yesterday and this evening, I have just been mega busy. I'm looking forward to finishing work next Friday for two weeks so I can relax a little. Although, to be honest, I know I won't get much rest as so many different things are happening in December! 

The Christmas celebrations have already started. On Saturday, I went out for my works Christmas do. We went to Tiger Tiger for a meal and then stayed afterwards for a boogie. We spent most of the night in the Boogie Wonderland room but it was so hot in there. I couldn't breathe. Apart from that I had a really good night. This Friday, I'm out for a meal with my best friends and we'll be making a whole night of it. We all grew up together but now people have moved away so it's nice to meet up and celebrate Christmas together. 

What have you been doing to celebrate the Christmas countdown?

If you want to follow me on Instagram, my username is lostinlipstick. If you do follow me, make sure you leave your username below. I love finding new people on Instagram.

Rachel x 

Lost In Lipstick

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Christmas at The Body Shop - Gift Guide 2013

Just browsing The Body Shop website makes me so excited for Christmas. Many of these goodies have made my Christmas Wish List (I'll have to do an updated version soon!) The Body Shop have released three limited-edition collections for the festive season; Vanilla Bliss, Ginger Sparkle and Cranberry Joy. It would be lovely to create your very own gift sets with items that you know your loved ones would use that way the gift would be more personal and it gives you an excuse to buy beautiful packaging! But if time is against you and you're not a creative soul, I have picked out a few of my favourite gift sets at the end. 

Indulgent Vanilla Bliss

Vanilla Bliss Lip Balm £4 // Vanilla Bliss Hand Cream £4 // Vanilla Bliss Hand Wash £6 // Vanilla Bliss Hand Lotion £8 // Vanilla Bliss Heart Soap £2.50 // Vanilla Bliss Body Butter £13 // Vanilla Bliss Shower Gel £4 // Vanilla Bliss Body Polish £10 // Vanilla Bliss Shimmer Lotion £8

Zingy Ginger Sparkle

Ginger Sparkle Lip Balm £4 // Ginger Sparkle Hand Cream £4 // Ginger Sparkle Shower Gel £4 // Ginger Sparkle Body Polish £10 // Ginger Sparkle Shimmer Lotion £8 // Ginger Sparkle Heart Soap £2 // Ginger Sparkle Home Fragrance Oil £4 // Ginger Sparkle Hand Wash £6 // Ginger Sparkle Hand Lotion £8 // Ginger Sparkle Reed Diffuser £15 // Ginger Sparkle Body Butter £16

Fruity Cranberry Joy

Cranberry Joy Handwash £6 // Cranberry Joy Hand Lotion £8 // Cranberry Joy Shower Gel £4 // Cranberry Joy Body Polish £10 // Cranberry Joy Shimmer Lotion £8 // Cranberry Joy Home Fragrance Oil £4 // Cranberry Joy Heart Soap £2.50 // Cranberry Joy Body Butter £13 // Cranberry Joy Linen, Room & Spritz £6 // Cranberry Joy Reed Diffuser £15 // Cranberry Joy Lip Balm £4 // Cranberry Joy Hand Cream £4

Gift Sets

Born Lippy Fruit Lip Balms Lollipop £10 // The Joyful Gingerbread House £17 // Mango Lip Softening Gift Set £7 // Ginger Sparkle Shower, Scrub & Moisture Collection £17 // Cranberry Joy Body Lip Care Collection £25 // Vanilla Bliss Shower, Scrub & Moisture Collection £17

Which collection are you most excited about? Which items from The Body Shop have made your Christmas wish list?

Rachel x
Lost In Lipstick

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Week 48

The Christmas countdown is on! // Helter Skelter at Trafford Centre // My beautiful dressing table, back where it belongs // Smoked gammon, sweet potato mash and asparagus // Yankee Candle burner and Christmas wax tarts // Taking part in this Instagram challenge, my first one // Day 1 - Advent Calendar // Christmas Tree! // Some of my favourite decorations

Hi Lovelies,

I'm so glad it's December - I can finally decorate the house and begin to get into the Christmas Spirit. We got our tree and decorations down on Saturday night ready for Sunday morning. As we're big kids, we also have an advent calendar. I only have a chocolate one this year, maybe I'll get a beauty one next year. This Friday, we're going to the Christmas Markets. I absolutely love them, they're such a great day/night out. We try and sample as much food as possible! 

Next weekend is a busy one for me. Obviously, we're going to the Christmas Markets on Friday. Then I'm going to a pantomime on Saturday with the Brownies. It's my works Christmas do on Saturday night, we're going out for a meal and a dance in Manchester. On Sunday, it's my nephew's 2nd birthday so we're having a party. I can't believe he's almost two! Time has flown by so quickly! 

What have you been doing to celebrate the beginning of the Christmas countdown?

If you want to follow me on Instagram, my username is lostinlipstick. If you do follow me, make sure you leave your username below. I love finding new people on Instagram.

Rachel x 

Lost In Lipstick

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