Who doesn't love a good bargain? I'm always on the hunt to save money so I love a good dupe. But like most people, I like what I like. I find myself drawn to similar shades over and over again.

So it's not that surprising that I've found two very similar lipsticks within my collection. These two nudes are alike in every way except the price. One costs a massive £25 and the other costs £5.49. A difference of £19.51.

Spend: The NARS Audacious lipstick in Barbara is such an amazing lipstick. Everything about it feels premium. The packaging has the NARS logo all around the edge of the bullet and the lid snaps shut with a very satisfying magnetic click. The lipstick itself has the NARS logo embossed into the bullet. It's almost too pretty to use. NARS describe the colour as a 'tan rose' which is certainly true. It's definitely a  nude that would suit a lot of people as it's not too pink or too brown but somewhere in the middle. The velvet finish is neither a true matte nor a glossy texture and stays on all day with minimal need to touch up after eating and drinking. Overall I get a lot of wear out of this as it is ideal for work.

Top: Rimmel London Kate Lasting Finish 003. Bottom: NARS Audacious Lipstick in Barbara.

Save: The Rimmel London Kate Lasting Finish in shade 003 does pretty much all of the above but for a fraction of the price. The packaging is the classic black Rimmel bullet with Kate's name on the lid in red. While not as glamorous as the NARS one I really like the packaging for the price; it's nice to look at and keeps the lid on securely. The lipstick is also scented, but quickly fades after application. The colour is ever so slightly lighter than the NARS one as you can see from the swatch but when actually applied the colour difference is negligible. The finish is incredibly similar and while not quite as long lasting, it does stay put for several hours and is equally suitable for even the strictest of office environments. 

Overall Verdict: Save

I do love the NARS version and there is no denying that it feels premium enough to justify the price. However, if I had known how similar the Rimmel one I already had was, I wouldn't have bought it. The two lipsticks are so similar once applied, that for the sake of touching up my lipstick up occasionally, I think it's worth saving yourself nearly £20 and going for the Rimmel one. 

Bronze Holiday Make Up

I always find packing for trips really stressful. No matter how good a list I make I always agonize over what to take and what to leave behind. This time for my trip to Crete I decided I was going to take as little make up as possible for minimal fuss. However since I got home I've been using the same products all the time to recreate that holiday feeling.

The look I was going for was a natural, glowing gold look as I tan very easily and I wanted to take products that would work with this.

For my base I wanted something light but with as a high an SPF as I could find so that I wouldn't have to layer too many products on my face. I went for the Clinique Anti Blemish solutions BB cream as its specifically designed for use on oily skin and has SPF 40. The formula of this is very thin and runny so you only need to use a small amount of product and it gives a lovely even coverage. My only issue with this is due to its thin consistency it can be quite messy and the inside lid of mine is covered in product. I have the colour medium and I find it to be an excellent match but the shade range is limited and could be too orange for those on the paler side. I am a massive Clinique fan and have always found their products to work well for me. If you are olive skin toned with oily or spot prone skin then this is well worth a try.

For my cheeks I used my Max Factor Creme puff blush in Seductive Pink combined with my Mac Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle. This gave a really soft golden glow and was perfect with a tan.

I get really bad bags under my eyes so used my Benefit Puff Off as a lighter alternative to concealer. This stuff is great because the gel is cooling but also has a slight pink shimmer to counteract the purple tones. The cool feel of the product combined with the salmon tint really does help to hide them. Most of the time the only other eye make up I wore was my Maybelline lash sensational mascara. When this first launched everyone was going on about how it was a dupe for Benefits Roller Lash and having tried both I have to say it is a pretty close match. If you're a fan of roller lash this is definitely worth a try as its so much cheaper.

There was only a few nights where I wore anything other than mascara as most of our evenings were very relaxed. I wanted a really simple eye look to continue with the gold theme so used my Urban Decay Naked 2 palette focusing on Suspect or YDK combined with other various shades to create a soft shimmery smokey eye.

I decided to pass on wearing anything on my lips other than my nivea lip balm as it was just too hot for sticky lipgloss or to have lipstick sliding about everywhere.

The thing I love best about this look is it takes a few minutes to create which also makes it perfect for wearing to work now that I am back in the UK. Now I am home I'm teaming this with a nude lip and my hair in a french braid to continue with the relaxed feel.

New Urban Decay Haul

Today I am going to branch out a little and do more of a beauty style post. Although I am a lifestyle blogger I like to mix things up from time to time. Plus I am really nosy and love to see what other people have bought.

The bunch of stuff I bought was because I found a bit of money in my room I had forgotten I had (bloody love it when that happens). A sensible person would have put that money aside for a rainy day and not spent it on eyeshadow, but I had clearly already done that and never spent it. So y'know I just thought what the heck, ITS TIME.

am obsessed with Urban Decay and in particular their Naked palettes. I find myself trawling through Instagram and Pinterest for pretty pictures that have these incredibly sexy eyeshadows in. I already have the Naked 3 palette and I have got such amazing use out of it. Clearly I now need all three of them.

So I had to get Naked 2. Its a beauty, I mean just look at it. I know everyone who has ever been on a beauty blog already knows all about them so I am not going to blabber on about the different shades and how pigemented it is or whatever. You already know this stuff, just look at it and appreciate how gorgeous it is. I think I'm in love. I suspect its only a matter of time before the original one is sitting in my online basket.

I also got the Urban Decay Primer Potion in original because this is the only thing I have ever tried that stops my eye make up sliding around my face on a night out. If for any insane reason you have not tried it yet then you really should. And just as a hint if you get a eyeshadow palette you get a free sample of this with it...

So moving on to lip products I finally purchased these after trying them on in store back at the beginning of the year. I can't stop thinking about how much I liked them so it had to be done. First up is the Revolution lipstick in Turn on which is a lovely soft pink colour. You can't get better than pink lipstick for Spring. Thats just how it is.

To go with it I got the Naked Ultra Nourishing Lipgloss in Lovechild. I used to love lipgloss and wore it everyday, but recently lipstick has kind of been winning for me. Its time to get back into this and I love that this one doesn't feel sticky and gloopy.

I'm pretty happy with all this, plus I got 10% off and free delivery which is always a bonus :D

Things that have made me happy

So its been a while since I've posted and been even longer since I've done one of these posts. My bad. Its been a busy few weeks and I've been up to lots of stuff.

1. I finally booked my holiday! I'm off to Crete in July for 10 days in the sun with Jared. I've worked hard to save for this trip and it feels so good to finally have it all booked and sorted. I've just got the car hire left to organise and then all that's left to do is get excited! I've already bought a new bikini and I'm constantly thinking about new outfits I want to take with me. I can't wait!

2. My sister Ellie got me this adorably cute gift just because. Firstly isn't that just the nicest thing? A surprise present for no reason at all? And its from Paperchase which is where the stationary gods place their gifts for me to drool over. A big thank you to her, the notebook lives in my bag so I can jot down random things I need to remember. So not only is it pretty but its also useful.

3. During the Easter holidays I pretty much just worked (in order to pay for uni next year and for Crete) but I did manage a weekend back in Southampton to see Jared. We wanted to go to the beach but it was raining so went off to explore Winchester. Its such a cute little place and as I've previously mentioned on this blog reminds me so much of Salisbury. The main thing we had come to see was the cathedral which is stunning and I had no idea it was *quite* that old. After a cheeky McDonalds we spent most of the afternoon in a second hand book shop which sorta made me feel like we were in a Match.com advert or something. I got a book on watercolour painting as a gift for Ellie, to say thank you for my notebook.

4. As we are now in the start of the new tax year I got some holiday pay. I wasn't expecting to receive this and it made an excellent contribution towards paying for my trip. Nice to get a little unexpected something extra.

5. Last weekend was a special occasion so Jared and I went away for the weekend to Exmouth in Devon. Although the weather was rubbish we had a lovely few days and watched a lot of films and ate huge amounts of food. We made an excellent playlist so the drive down was pretty fun as well.  After a stressful week full of deadlines it was really nice to escape to some fresh sea air.

6. As mentioned above I had a big essay due to last week and I am relieved to see the back of it!

7. A quick shopping trip turned into damn I need more lipsticks. I got these on a 3 for 2 offer and I am just loving the purple shades for Spring!

Six Month Anniversary Giveaway!

Hi everyone! Can't believe its been 6 whole months since I started this blog. I'm so proud of how far its come and how much its grown.

In order to celebrate I've teamed up with my talented sister Elena O'Neill to do this giveaway. She is currently studying to become an illustrator and she designed my beautiful blog header for me. You can purchase her original designs both as prints and as products such as iPhone cases here.

We are giving away a full sized Mac lipstick in a colour of the winners choice and a handmade pencil case in an original print.

To enter all you have to do is use the Rafflecopter widget below to comment on this post what lipstick colour you would like should you win. Additional entries can be earnt by using the widget to like Elena's Facebook page and to follow me on Twitter!

Best of luck everyone!

Rules

1. This competition is only open to people within the UK. Apologies to anyone else but gonna stick to just posting within the UK.

2. The winner may choose their shade but it may only be within Macs standard range. It does not apply to limited edition or specials shades.

3. If I am unable to source the colour of your choice (if its out of stock) then you may choose a replacement colour.

4. The design of the pencil case may differ from the one shown in the picture as all prints are original and some are one of a kind.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Things that have made me happy this week

Its been a really busy week for me and I'm pretty tired from it. I'm currently working every weekend and its really starting to take its toll, particularly as I am not very well at the moment with a really bad chest and throat. Poor little me I know.
However because its been a busy week theres been a fair bit going on and theres plenty of stuff thats made me happy.

1. On Wednesday I headed off to London with my Dad for a family party. I hardly ever go to London and its actually been two years since I was last there! The party was for my Dads cousins (so my second cousin?) 50th birthday and we went with my Grandad, two of my Aunts and one of my cousins and it was really nice to spend some time with them. I've never really met much of my Irish family and it was nice to meet some new people.
Also I always enjoy an excuse to get dolled up and I wore a black pencil dress with flats because I couldn't be bothered to walk all over London in heels. It was so much fun and I am really glad I made the effort to go.

2. This party seemed like a great opportunity to try out some of my newest beauty buys. I was so impressed with them that they made me happy enough to warrant their own point on this list. However I had to get ready to leave Southampton at midday and the party was from 7pm to 11pm. Therefore I needed my make up to stay put all day.  For anyone who is interested here is a quick rundown of my #MOTD. It felt odd putting all this slap on my face in the middle of the day as I don't really wear much during the day normally. 
After my usual Clinique skincare routine I used Clinqiue Universal Superprimer followed by Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation and Concealer in Alabaster. Not entirely sure how my olive skin is considered Alabaster but this is a surprisingly good match for me.
Over the top of this I used Clinique Stay Matt in 101 Invisible Matt. For my cheeks I used Clinique All Over Bloom blush in Peony and Seventeens Shimmer Brick in Pink Bronze. For my eyes I used Urban Decays Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Original, with my new Soap and Glory Supercat eyeliner alongside my Naked 3 eyeshadow palette. I finished this off with my Benefit Rollerlash mascara. Finishing touches were my eyebrows done in my Rimmel Pencil and my favorite Clinique Long Last Lipstick in So Sweet.
 Apart from lipstick touch ups and a quick repowder of my shiny nose my make up lasted ALL NIGHT. Yes thats right. I put it on at 12pm and and I took it off at 2am when I got home and it had not budged a bit. Thats 14 hours. Usually by the end of the night my make up is all over the place. I am crediting the two primers I used. You seriously need them in your life.
Excuse the poor quality of the selfie. There was wine involved by the time I thought to take a picture.

3. After this party on Wednesday I was feeling naughty and decided I couldn't be bothered to go back to uni. Yes I know, I'm a bad person. But I don't care. I spent Thursday just chilling on the sofa (nursing my hangover) and I've got to be at home for 4 lovely days with my crazy family. I literally love them so much.

4. Seeing our new kittens, they are just so cute! They've got their eyes open now and are just starting to try to walk around. Its impossible not to be happy while holding a newborn kitten in your hand. I've been taking so many pictures of them and sending them to my friends to make them jealous. Not feeling any guilt about it either, I mean can you even believe how CUTE they are?

5. Its Bonus time at Boots at the moment and I've grabbed myself some great Clinique Products. I love the chance bonus time gives you to try new products that you might not have necessarily chosen for yourself. I am loving the blusher and the Chubby stick eyeshadow and I think they make a great spring look. I wore them both to work on Friday and they made me feel so on it. I mean get me, coordinating my make up to the seasons. My only complaint is I wish Clinque would let you tailor the products to your skin type. The Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion is just too rich for my oily skin and I wish I had the option of exchanging it for the gel version (which I LOVE). But overall I love the bag that this came in and I was also really impressed with the mascara. Its the perfect size for my handbag too. Get yourself down to Boots and get one for yourself, you won't be dissapointed!

6. This weekend I managed to drive Jasper for the first time since Christmas and he was such a good boy. I think I should get extra dedication points as I was feeling really poorly and going outside in the cold was the last thing I wanted to do. This sport has been such a big part of my life over the last 13 years and its makes me sad that because of uni I can't devote as much time to it. It was so nice to get back to it though and I'm going to make a determined effort to try and squeeze it in around work and uni.

The Clinique products I'm currently lusting after

Now first off, the work situation is currently dire. I am in the grip of a tortuous two week exam period and only a few days after my final exam is the hand in date for my dissertation. In case I hadn't gone on about it enough. I've been staring at a computer screen ALL DAY drawing lines in order to make my interpretive map. The good news is I've done one of my exams, submitted a deadline and my map is slowly but surely getting there. Also almost half way through the dissertation. BOOM.

Instead of revising tonight I am procrastinating by making this post. I am a top student.
I've already spent several hours watching Him & Her (rapidly becoming my favorite show of all time) and Orphan Black (only just discovered this, it is so darn gripping!). And I've had a ready meal. But I have spent 8 hours today making that fecking map so I think its only fair enough.

Just as a side note, Clinique have not bribed me in anyway to make this post (although if they want to I would be more than happy to accept aforementioned bribary). I am actually a genuine fan. Also a very poor fan, who would already own all the things on this list if I actually had any money. So please indulge me in another whiny post about all thing stuff I want. This really is way more fun than actually doing any form of work.

1. Turnaround Overnight Radiance Night Cream

I love a good night cream. There is something so luxurious about taking the time to pamper yourself before you go to sleep. Also I am a bit of a sucker for thinking I genuinely look like a model when I wake up after I use one. The reason why I've got my eye on this one is it is oil free and designed for my skin type (which is type 3 in case anyone is interested). I currently use Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask which is great but I think it is a teeeeeeny bit too rich for my shitty oily T-Zone. It also has 95% recommendation rate. Sounds pretty ace to me.

2. Turnaround Instant Facial

Another one from Clinque's turnaround range. I love their other cleansers but I am looking for something that can create a real at home treat. This product (according to the reviews) has sparkly bits in which sounds exciting! I need something that will repair damage done from a late night binge watching Breaking Bad or from too much wine. I feel like I could use this product and skip off to lectures with nobody having a clue how exhausted I am. I want people to be like "Amber's skin is always so radiant! I wish I knew how she did it!". I can dream.

3. Clinique Sonic Brush

I've mentioned this bad boy on here before. But its because I really REALLY WANT ONE. I tried one at my local Clinique counter when they first came out and it was so good. Felt so soft on my skin and I'm certain it could zap the greasy bits by my nose. I feel like it would boost my 3 Step to a whole other level but the expense is certainly holding me back on this one. The huge amount of positive reviews on the website promise I wont regret it, but I still just can't quite bring myself to part with the cash. Maybe I'll spend my birthday money on it... (By which I mean, I will.)

4. Smart Custom Serum

Now this is also a relatively new product from Clinique and I have a free sample of it somewhere. I'm desperate to try it but it has vanished into the depths of my room. This promises to address uneven skin tone and to improve radiance. Sounds pretty incredible to me. Again, this is quite pricy for a student budget so I think I'll have a good look for that free sample and see what I make of it. But serums are all the rage at the moment and I'm keen to see what all the fuss is about. This little beauty also has over 95% recommendation rate and I can't imagine all those people are wrong. I shall prepare for a trip to Boots in the near future.

5. Airbrush Concealer 

My flatmate has this and I find myself stealing it before every night out. I also tried it last time I was at a Clinique counter. Mostly cos I was looking like shit that day and wanted someone to patch me up. I haven't bought it yet because I am too poor. But I am going to. At some point. I need a concealer that will work perfectly with my foundation and I suspect that this is probably the answer. Also I just love that its a pen cos thats so handy for emergency spot hiding. I suspect when I eventually own one I will go though it pretty quickly and it will become a handbag staple.

6. True Bronze Pressed Powder

Another one that I've tried during a makeover at a counter and I loved it! I use bronzer all the time but I am always stressed my cheap one makes me look like an orange amateur. This gave me such a healthy glow and I got so many compliments that day on how great I was looking. I already own Cliniques Fresh Bloom All Over Colour and I think its incredible so hopefully I would love this one just as much.

7. Chubby Stick Cheek Colour Balm

This is not an essential purchase. I already have several blushers that are all great. This is purely something I want. As I already have 3 Chubby Sticks I am confident that this would be a flattering, long lasting colour. I've never owned a cream blush but I constantly read that they give a very natural flush which sounds good to me. I like to go for the natural look on a daily basis so anything that can help me achieve that has to be on my wishlist.

8. Long Last Lipstick

I already own two of these and they are by far my favourite lipsticks. They are soft, creamy and really do last for ages. Ive already mentioned my newer of the two called So Sweet here and I am devastated that Clinique decided to discontinue it. What will I do when it runs out!! There are several different colours that I like the look of available such as Black Violet, Watermelon, Pink Spice, Rose Shimmer, Violet Berry, Heather Moon, Dubonet... Basically all of them! I probably need to go into store and spend a delightful hour trying them all on. I highly recommend these lipsticks. You need one in your life. And for a high end lipstick they are very reasonably priced.

So in conclusion: I need to get saving. When I finish this exam hell I plan on going on a splurge to reward myself. What the hell.

Pictures all from Clinique,

Outfit of the week

So I've decided to try something new this week and share with you an outfit that I have been wearing.

I absolutely love this dress and I wear it a lot, as its so relaxed and comfy. Also the loose fit hides any bloating. YAY!

This look is perfect for warmer Autumn days like we've been having lately but I will still be wearing it when it gets a bit colder but maybe with a big parker jacket instead.

I love this monochrome, slightly grunge look as its literally effortlessly elegant (I got ready in 15min this morning).

The boots and scarf add an autumnal feel and provide a bit of colour. I am in love with these boots at the moment and I'm wearing them with 98% of my outfits. They are just so bloody comfy and perfect.

The cardigan is something I've had since about 2007 (I'm that cool) and I've only recently rediscovered how awesome it is. It goes with everything and is great for layering and I plan on wearing it a lot more.


Dress- Topshop but old (Similar one here)
Scarf- Newlook but again old
Cardigan -Newlook (also old but similar one here)
Boots- Joe Browns £44.95
Lipstick- Clinique So Sweet £17.50

My new Autumn/Winter Lipsticks

Here are the three new lipsticks I've invested in for Autumn/Winter 2014. Best bit was I bought all three of these using my Boots points, so they were essentially free! How I love getting stuff for nothing. And I'm sure you guys are gonna love my make up free, just woke up face and bedhair. Enjoy that.

1. Lancome L'Absolu Rouge in Rose Nu £21.50

I've struggled forever to find a nude lip colour that actually suits me and I've come to the conclusion that it's because my natural lip colour is quite pink so brown shades look weird me on me. I'm literally in love with this colour as its such a subtle pink you can wear it everywhere. Also its so silky and nourishing yet barely there. Its such a classy, timeless colour and instantly makes you look more polished and out together. So far I've worn it out for dinner, out shopping and to lectures. Still loving it!

2. Clinique Long Last Lipstick in So Sweet £17.50

I love Clinique make up as I think it gives you the quality of designer brands but at a slightly more affordable price. This is a lovely soft red and the warm colour makes it perfect for Autumn/Winter but it's still toned down enough to wear in the daytime which is a massive plus. I've worn it to lectures a few times and got several compliments on it.

3. Rimmel Lasting Finish in Starry Eyed £4.99

This is a different shade to what I would normally go for as with my olive skin I tend to buy a lot of red lipstick. I've been following this vampy lipstick trend for a while now and have recently found myself pinning quite a few on Pinterest  so I've decided to take the plunge and have gone for this warm, wine coloured one. The price is incredible and the colour lasts a long time and it's clearly perfect for the long dark nights ahead. Probably more of a night time lipstick (unless you're brave) and I wore it out last week. Only problem is its a bit drying but as it only cost a fiver I am not complaining.