Like many people, Clinique was my first foray into 'higher end' make up and skincare. It all started when I was in Boots just wandering around aimlessly and I was approached by one of the women who worked on their counter, asking if I would like a makeover.

Normally I just politely said no when asked, but I had nothing better to do and I had always been curious about the counters of expensive things. So off I went and had my skincare and make up done. I left with some trial size products and a new interest in make up and skincare.

Over the years I've tried a lot of the products in their range. Some I didn't get on with, some have ingredients that I never use on my skin (SLS and mineral oil) but others have remained firm favourites.

Clinique have always been a brand that is better known for their skincare than their make up and I personally think while there are hits and misses in both, there are definitely some stand out products.

1. Take the day off balm - £24.00

The one you now hear every beauty blogger talk about. I have been using this for years and I have only just finished my first tub. I don't use it exclusively and switch it up with other products but I know I can rely on this to remove the most hardcore of waterproof make up.

It's extremely gentle on the eyes and leaves skin beautifully soft without stripping it. A little goes a long way, so it lasts a long time.

Basically if you can only buy one thing from Clinique, make it this. You need this in your life!

2. Moisture surge moisturiser - £36.00

Another staple and I have gone through multiple pots of this. I've never met anyone who doesn't get on with this product.

The reason I love it is it's an oil free gel type mosituriser which is suitable for all skin types. Gel type formulas are my favourite for my combination skin as they keep it hydrated without making it greasy.

3. Lip pop lipsticks - £17.00

These got loads of hype when they first came out and I think they're still some of my favoutite lipsticks of all time. I have 7 of these but my most worn colours are Cherry Pop, Plum Pop and Sugar Pop.

You only need one application for maximum pigmentation and they stay put for a surprisingly long time, with minimal touch ups needed.

There's a huge range of colours so there's something for everyone.At £17 they're not exactly cheap but I think these compare to far more expensive lipsticks (Chanel, NARS, Charlotte Tilbury etc).

4. Colour pop blush - £17.00

These have to be some of the prettiest blushes available. Who doesn't love their adorable little flower design? But more importantly they're actually really good.

These apply really smoothly and give a soft, natural glow. I have the shade Heather Pop and it's a really pretty pink that blends beautifully.

5. Chubby sticks intense - £18.50

I like the original chubby sticks, but personally find them a little underwhelming and overpriced for essentially a tinted lip balm.

The intense versions though are far more unique. These are lipsticks in a twist up crayon and the pigmentation and staying power is remarkable. These are so perfect for popping in your handbag as they can be applied in an instant.

Curviest Caramel is easily my most worn lip product ever but the whole range of colours is lovely and there is definitely a colour in the range that you would like.

6. Fresh bloom blush - £26.00

One of my very fist Clinique purchases that I never once seen anyone else talk about.

The peony pattern on this blush is stunning. Can there be anything more classically beauty blogger than pretty make up combined with peonies?

More importantly this blush is actually really good. It does have a slight shimmer and very subtle shimmer which personally I like. But it blends nicely and is easy to apply. 

Do you have any favourites from Clinique? Let me know as I'm always looking for new things to try. 

The ten minute make up routine for busy mornings

If you're anything like me, you don't do mornings.

I struggle with motivating myself to get ready at the best of times but getting ready to go at 6am on a weekday does not equal a happy Amber. 

Sadly though we all have to make ourselves look presentable for work and that usually requires putting on a bit of make up to hide my under eye bags make myself look and feel better.

As much as I love make up most of the time I don't have the energy to create something spectacular on your average week day. 

Particularly because it's cold, dark and nobody will notice what my amazing eye make up looks like once I'm sat behind my partition at my desk. 

So I have whittled my morning make up routine to such a peak of efficiency that it now takes me less than 10 minutes to achieve.

Base

I always start with my bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted  Gel. This stuff is fab and great if you like to wear a bit of a base but don't want anything too heavy. 

I find this gives a 'soft focus' effect (similar to Charlotte Tilbury's Wonderglow) and blurs imperfections rather than hiding them. This foundation is light and it will not cover a blemish or hide redness. But it does give a smoothed appearance without hiding what your face actually looks like.

It's long wearing and I find it works well on my combination skin. It is best applied with your fingers and less is DEFINITELY more with this (which is good because it lasts a long time). You need a pea size and that is it. Any more and you will not get it to blend evenly. I love that it can be applied with fingers because it means less brushes to wash and its quick and easy.

A word of warning though, this product does NOT get on with any sort of silicone primer. I once tried it with The Ordinary's High Adherence Silicone primer. Big mistake. They did not mesh well together and it peeled off my face in huge strings of gloop. I had to wash it all off and start again.

In all honesty this product doesn't need a primer as it stays put well by itself. 

I wear this in shade 06 Ginger but it comes in a large shade range which should suit a lot of people. 

It also contains SPF 30 which is perfect for me in the winter when I'm inside an office all day. 

To hide my tiredness I use my Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser which twists up and you apply it directly to your under eye area using the sponge applicator. I wish this came in more shades as it doesn't give you many options. 

I blend this using my Primark Beautyblender (these are amazing btw) and that's my make up base done.

Brows

I probably spend the most time on my eyebrows and use three different products ( I know, I'm high maintenance). 

I like a soft natural look so I use an angled brush to apply my Mac eyeshadow in Cork in small feathery strokes. I define the underside of my brow first and work upwards.

I have a bald patch in both my eyebrows where the arch is (one is worse than the other) so I use my NYX eyebrow pencil to fill in any sparse areas and then the spooley on the other end to tidy things up.

I set my brows using my Benefit Gimme Brow eyebrow gel, which keeps everything in place throughout the day.

Eyes

On mornings where I am getting ready this quickly I only bother with mascara. At the moment I am using the Lancome Grandiose mascara which has it's very unusual swan neck wand. I actually really like this mascara and find that the different shape of the wand does help you to evenly reach all of the awkward bits. 

This mascara stays put all day and doesn't flake off. It's only annoying thing is I struggle to apply this without getting some of it on my upper eyelid. I just dip a cotton bud in micellar water and do a two second clean up.

This does give quite a bold, thick look to lashes, which might not be to everyone's liking but I quite like a dramatic look. 

Cheeks

This is the part of the look I switch up the most but lately I've been exclusively using my NARS blusher in Orgasm. I've recently seen a lot of people saying they don't like the cult favourite but I personally love it.

It's a soft pink with a gold shimmer running through it. I find it gives a natural flush to the cheeks and the shimmer means I don't need to use a highlighter which saves me time.

NARS blushes are legendary for their staying power and this stays put all day. 

Lips

I also like to mix up my lip colour but my Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in Curviest Caramel never leaves my handbag.

I usually apply this in the rear view mirror of my car as I'm about to get out and go to work and I love how easy and fuss free it is.

The twist up pencil doesn't require sharpening and it has good staying power. The formula is more lipstick like than the other chubby sticks and as a result it only needs reapplying a few times throughout the day.

The colour is incredibly flattering and is a warm nude with just enough brown. It's my favourite nude shade and easily my most worn lip product. It's perfect for any time that you want to 'play it safe' like a job interview but also when you're in a hurry like me in the morning and don't have time to be worrying about your lipstick. 

So that is how I get myself out of the door in time without scaring my co workers. Do you have any favourite products for when you're in a hurry? Let me know in the comments as I'm always looking for new products to speed up my routine even more.

Spend vs Save: Tata Harper or Burt's Bees Cleansing Oil

How you choose to spend your money is such a personal thing, some people love their designer clothes, others like to spend their money on exotic travel.

For me I have always liked spending my money on my make up and skin care. Fashions change but well looked after skin never goes out of style. 

I like my skincare expensive and high end but like most of us this isn't something I can afford all the time. Instead I compromise and mix in lower end products with my more expensive ones.

Whilst I 100% agree with Caroline Hirons that there is no such thing as a dupe in skincare (you often get what you pay for in terms of research and ingredients) that doesn't mean that there aren't great products to be found at the more affordable level. This is more true of some brands than others.

When we started saving to buy our house I had to cut all unnecessary spending and that my meant I couldn't afford to replace some of my high end favourites when they ran out.

I started trying more affordable alternatives and have found some excellent products that I had never tried before, including this wonderful Burt's Bees oil.

Starting off with the more expensive of the two though:

Tata Harpers Nourishing Oil Cleanser - £68.00

There's no getting away from the fact the price tag for this is eye watering. So much so I'm not sure I will ever be able to replace it when it runs out.

This cleansing oil though is beautiful and it smells divine and I like to imagine I am at an expensive spa. I feel so calm and relaxed when I use this (which admittedly is sparingly because it's so expensive). It leaves skin incredibly soft and clean.

I use this morning or evening but I have to admit I have only ever used this as a second cleanse. 

While I am sure this would effortlessly remove make up I do not want to waste it on that and prefer to use other (cheaper) products for that task. 

It is very gentle and I imagine it would work well for almost everyone. 

I save this oil for when I need a mood lift or my skin is in need of rescuing and luckily a little goes a long way!

Burt's Bees Facial Cleansing Oil - £16.99

The Burt's Bees cleaning oil is significantly more affordable than the Tata Harper version and as a result I use it far more often.

I have used this product to remove make up and it takes even waterproof eye make up off effortlessly. It's also wonderful in the morning or as a second cleanse.

Like the Tata Harper oil this leaves skin soft and is incredibly gentle. Because its an oil you do not get the uncomfortable 'tight' feeling that other cleansers can cause.  

You only need two to three pumps of this to remove a whole face of make up so it lasts a long time.

Despite it's cheaper price tag this still smells and feels lovely (although not quite as lovely as the Tata Harper one). 

The Burt's Bees oil is definitely more of the workhorse in my collection and I have recommended it to several people.

Although it isn't exactly cheap at £17 it is frequently on offer and is far easier to get hold of than the Tata Harper oil.

Overall verdict?

Although I adore the Tata Harper oil I'm not sure that it's cost can be justified when the Burt's Bees version performs as well and costs a fraction of the price. 

If you have the budget then definitely treat yourself to the Tata Harper oil as it is wonderful but for the rest of us the Burt's Bees one does the same job and is much kinder to your wallet. 

Have you ever tried either of these? Or do you have an even cheaper alternative than the Burt's Bees version? Let me know in the comments!

Clinique Take the Day off Range

I've spoken about it a lot on this blog but Clinique have to be one of my favourite brands. I like that their products are a mid price point and that they do what they say on the tin with no fuss.

While I don't love all of their products, my favourite range of theirs has to be the least glamorous: the Take the Day off range.

Let's face it, taking your make up off isn't exciting and is at a best a mildly annoying chore. But for those of us that are lazy when it comes to face washing, then the Take the Day off products are life changing.

There is a product for every need, they don't contain any fragrance, don't irritate my eyes and most importantly? They work. 

They last for ages and although they aren't the cheapest in the world, I've found them to perform either as well or better than more expensive alternatives.

On top of all of this, I love the packaging. While it is most importantly functional and practical I really like the purple and silver theme, which makes it seem a lot more luxurious than the price suggests.

Even the make up wipes from this range are pretty good. I haven't included them in this post because I don't use make up wipes as part of my usual routine, but as far as make up wipes go, they are the best I've ever tried.

As a disclaimer, this post is not in anyway sponsored, I just really love this range!

1. Take the Day off Cleansing Balm

If you buy one thing from this range, make sure it is this. I've had my tub of it for YEARS and use it frequently. I've just purchased my first replacement, so that should give you some idea as to how cost effective this product is. You only need a small amount but it is always my weapon of choice for dealing with the thickest of make up. Particularly gel eyeliner and waterproof mascara as it just melts these away.

Like most cleansing balms this has a solid texture that melts into an oil when you massage it into the skin and then remove with a damp flannel. As with all Clinique products this does not contain any fragrance and I find that this makes it exceptionally gentle, particularly on the eyes. I always use this as a first cleanse to remove makeup and it's so simple and fuss free I even manage to use it after a night out.

If my skin isn't looking so great, I revert to using this daily because I know it will remove every last scrap of make up. Just try it, you won't regret it. 

2. Take the Day off Cleansing Oil

This is my most recent addition to my collection but it is already a firm favourite. I prefer to use oil based cleansers to remove my make up and like the cleansing balm, I only ever use this as a first cleanse to remove makeup. It is actually remarkably similar to the melted texture of the balm, which is probably why I like it so much. It removes make up easily and doesn't sting my very sensitive eyes. You only need a small amount for it to do an effective job.

Do you need this and the cleansing balm? Probably not, one or the other would be fine. I just wanted to give it a try mostly and I am as equally impressed with it as I am with my beloved cleansing balm.

The only downside to this product (as opposed to the cleansing balm) is that a liquid oil is messier to apply and riskier to travel with. Although the pump has a locking feature, I would make sure to pack it very carefully as I once had a very big mess (and a lot of product wasted) with the cream version of this product which has an identical pump.

3. Take the Day off Cleansing Lotion

This is the cream cleanser in the collection and was the first part of the range that I had ever tried. It's also by far the most versatile product in the range. I use this as  a first, second  and morning cleanse depending on my mood, how my skin feels and how much make up I am wearing. You can also take this product off using cotton wool instead of a damp flannel. While I always prefer to wash my face with actual water there are times when this isn't practical and this can be a good alternative to the dreaded make up wipe.

While this does remove make up well, it doesn't melt make up off like the balm and the oil do, so I tend to use this as a first cleanse on lighter makeup. It will take eye make up off but it isn't as effective as the other products so I tend to use a separate eye make up remover if I'm going to use this as a first cleanse. The lotion texture is extremely soothing so I often use this as a second cleanse after using the oil or balm if I've been wearing a lot of make up.I also reach for it a lot if my skin is being problematic or feeling irritated.

Will I repurchase this when I finally use it up? Probably. I do love it, but I also have a lot of other cream or lotion style cleansers that cost less but none of them are as effective at actually removing make up. I tend to use other ones for strictly second or morning cleaners whereas this is a jack of all trades.

As mentioned above, though, I am super careful when I travel with it now after it exploded all over my bag despite having the pump locked. Just something to bear in mind.

4. Take the Day off Eye Make Up Remover

I bought this after receiving so many samples of this during bonus times and loving them. I always try to save the sample size ones for traveling so having the full size is great. I've tried many of the two phase style eye make up removers that need to be shaken and this is one of the few that I actually like.

The oil part of this actually does melt eye make up off just like the cleansing balm/oil does which makes it perfect for traveling or situations where removing make up properly is difficult.

Like all the other products in the range, a little goes a long way and I find it cuts through even my Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner (by far my hardest eye make up to remove) with ease. It also does not irritate my eyes which many dedicated eye make up removers do.

It is also excellent for removing lipstick. Particularly matte red lipstick which always stains every little crevice of your lips so you look like an extra in a low budget vampire film the next day. This product though melts it off without you having to resort to scrubbing your lips.

The good thing is if you time your Clinique purchases right you can almost always pick things up during bonus time and chances are a little bottle of this will likely be in there, so you can try it for free. 

Have you tried any of the Take the Day off Range? Which one is your favourite?

 

Spend vs Save: Nars Audacious Lipstick or Rimmel Dupe

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. 

Mini NYX Haul

Like most of the blogging world I got really excited when my local Boots recently opened up a HUGE NYX counter. Finally I could get my hands on all the goodies everyone is always raving about. 

But since it opened I've been on a strict saving plan and haven't really been able to splurge on a good Boots Haul. 

On top of that every time I go near that counter is surrounded by 14 year old girls in their Kylie Jenner crop tops and leggings grabbing everything all their favourite Youtubers recommend. Not gonna lie I feel a bit intimidated by the amount of choice there is as well as Nyx offers A LOT of products and it's in very plain packaging so it all looks similar and I can't get close enough because of all the people to have a good look at anything. 

I wanted to share with you the few things I have tried from there so far because I've been really impressed with all of them. 

1. NYX Retractable Lip Liner in Nude - £5.50

I love a lip liner to help get my lipstick applied really evenly and neatly. I cannot be bothered with lip liners that need sharpening and I really like Rimmel's version of these too. Considering the price this gives a really opaque finish that lasts really well. It's also a true nude for me which I haven't previously managed to find from other brands. I love using this on its own with a nude lip gloss on top or under any lipstick. Because its so close to my natural lip colour it works with every shade of lipstick including darker vampy colours. I also use it under lipgloss/lipstain hybrids like the YSL Glossystains and find that it helps create a more even colour throughout the whole lip as they tend to be a bit patchy. Overall I am really pleased with this and I haven't taken it out of my handbag since I bought it. 

2. NYX Born to Glow Liquid Illuminator in Gleam - £7.00

I picked this up because it looked like it could be an excellent dupe for the NARS Illuminator in Orgasm which I've wanted to try but couldn't really justify spending the money on. Like the NARS one this is a versatile product that can be used as a liquid highlighter or mixed in with your foundation or moisturizer to give a subtle overall glow. This is a really lovely soft rose gold and I don't currently own anything else that is a similar colour. I've mostly been used it mixed in with my foundation for a daytime look that I can wear to work and it definitely adds a little extra to my normally tired looking face. Overall for £7 I'm glad I picked this up because its a fraction of the price of the higher end version.

3. NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Ash Brown - £8.00

Another product that seems like an excellent dupe but this time for the ABH eyebrow pencils that are around twice the price. This has overtaken my previous favourite eyebrow pencil (the Soap & Glory Brow Archery one) as I think its a better colour for me. Unlike the S&G which only comes in two colours the NYX comes in 8 different shades ranging from pale to auburn to black so there should be something for most people. I have mouse brown hair that I colour to be darker but my eyebrows are naturally paler than my head hair so I need something brown, but not too dark or warm toned. Blonde pencils tend to be too light and not ashy enough so Ash Brown is literally the perfect colour for me. Like the lip liner this is a twist up pencil so you don't have to sharpen it (WIN) and it also has a really good spooley on the end. I have a couple of sparse patches right in the middle of the arch of my brow and I find that this easily masks them without looking too harsh. I like a natural brow and it seems you can be as bold or lighthanded as you like. It also stays put all day without any setting gel on top which is a definite  bonus for morning when I'm in a rush. This is the 3rd one I've purchased and they've lasted around 2 months each of daily use so they're definitely excellent value for money.

Top: NYX Born to Glow Illuminator in Gleam, Middle: NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Ash Brown, Bottom: NYX retractable lip liner in Nude.

That's my small but well loved collection of NYX products. Let me know if there's something else I should try and elbow the teenage girls out the way to get my hands on!

18 ways to save money on buying high end brands

1. Make the most of offers. Brands often try to tempt you by offering free gifts when you buy certain products or spent a certain amount. Take advantage of this and only buy products when you're going to get a little extra for free. Its also a great way to try things and then you know if a product is really worth the money.

2. Get savvy with the sales and sign up for email alerts to your favourite brands. Then you'll be the first to know about them and should be able to pick up some bargains. Also they often send emails with special offers and discounts so its a really easy way to stay up to date with any potential deals.

3. Make good use of sites like Pinterest. It helps you develop your personal style which saves you money long term. If you know what you actually like then you waste less money on buying stuff you aren't really that fussed about. That leaves you more money to spend on that really nice coat you wanted instead of buying five really average T shirts you'll never wear.

4. Get comfortable with the idea of second hand. Sites like eBay and Vinted are great ways to pick up a bargain. People often sell on high end brands at significantly discounted prices.

5. Make good use of blog sales as people often sell virtually untouched or new clothes and make up at massively reduced rates. A good way to find them is to search 'blog sale' on twitter.

6. And blogs in general. Look at swatches and make certain it is what you want. Read reviews and see what other peoples experience with a product was. Doing your research on an expensive purchase is essential because you need to know if its right for you before you part with your cash.

7. If possible try to look at it in person/try it on in the shop before taking advantage of a better deal online. Particularly with perfume as its impossible to tell what something smells like just from a description.

8. Always check if you can earn cashback on purchases with sites such as Topcashback and Quidco. In the past year I've made over £200 from doing this so its well worth doing.

9. Make good use of comparison sites if you can. If you really want the latest iPhone then make sure you are getting the best deal for your money. Also take a look at your current bills and see how much of your current package you are actually using. You might be able to cut back and save yourself loads of money.

10. Sounds obvious but if you really want something but can't justify the money then ask for it as gifts. If its really pricey then you could ask for a gift voucher or cash towards it instead.

11. If you really really want something but its just too expensive then a dupe is a great way of trying it and seeing if you actually get on with it. For example you really want MAC's Ruby Woo lipstick but you decide to get a Rimmel dupe instead. If after a few months the lipstick has been hardly used or you're not too sure if the colour suits you then you'll know not to bother investing in the real thing.

12. Always be on the look out for any loyalty or reward schemes and save your points up for luxury items.

13. Learn what you can save money on. So if you don't find there to be any real difference between Maybellines Lash Sensational Mascara and Benefits Roller Lash then stick with what's better value. Then use your extra cash for items that are worth the splurge.

14. Always check sites like FragrenceDirect.com to see if they have your desired product for less.

15. Choose your most used brand as your favourite on feelunique.com and then you always get 10% off. They also offer free shipping on orders over £10 so its a great way of ordering your staples. I also recommend choosing a high value brand e.g. Chanel because you hardly ever find discounts elsewhere for brands such as these. Then if you choose to invest you'll save quite a bit of money.

16. If you're a student buy makeup from ASOS as you get 10% off. They stock some really big brands such as NARS and Benefit so the savings can really add up. If you're no longer a student then persuade a student friend to order if for you and give them the money.

17. Sites like wowcher and groupon often have really good deals on make up. For example reduced MAC lipsticks, heavily discounted fragrences and gift sets. I've saved considerable money buying feelunique.com vouchers and on my BirchBox subscription.

18. Outlet shops are often full of bargains and always have a good look in TK Maxx. You'll never know what you might find if you have a good rummage in there. For every ten smashed up eyeshadows there is a hidden gem lurking at the bottom of the pile.

If you have any other tips or tricks I would absolutely love to hear them!

How to get the most out of Clinique including things for free!

I am a huge fan of Clinique. There's no hiding it. My bathroom and make up bag are littered with their products and I'm forever harping on about them. However it is a relatively expensive brand and as a poor student I can't really afford it. Below is a list of the ways I have used to make it as affordable as possible and get as much for my money as I can.

1. Get yourself a Boots and/or Debenhams card depending on where you most frequently shop. I personally prefer Boots and its more convenient and you get more points with every spend. Always use your card when you buy your Clinique products. You will be amazed how quickly they add up and it is an easy way to make the most of the money you spend. Download the app on your phone to keep track of points and take advantage of the offers that are frequently available. In a few months I earnt enough Boots points to spend £30 on Clinique. That's £30 worth of stuff I effectively got for free.

2. Spend a little time choosing a favourite counter. This is really important as if its in a convenient location that you are likely to go to frequently you are more likely to pop in. I would advise frequenting your local Boots counter so you can also build up your Boots points with every purchase.

3. Develop some loyalty. By repeatedly visiting the same counter you will get to know the staff that work there. The guy who runs my local Boots counter in Southampton is absolutely awesome and so helpful. I always go to this counter and as a result he now knows me well and I can use his expert knowledge of the products on offer to my advantage.

4. Get involved with their social media. Follow them on Twitter and Instagram, sign up for their newsletter and like them on facebook. By doing so you can keep up to date with all the promotions that are on offer. Clinique almost always have some sort of promotion running and if you make an effort to time your purchases you will always save some money or get some products for free. For example I got an email yesterday to say there was a 24 hour offer on the Clinique website where you got two freebies with every £30 spend.

5. Make the most of Bonus Time. I only buy things from Clinique when its Bonus Time so I can get as much for my money as possible. In the UK you usually have to buy two items (one to be skincare) so I keep an eye on the Bonus Time website and carefully time my purchases to take advantage of these offers. Another thing worth bearing in mind is the more exclusive department stores (eg. Harrods) usually have better stuff in their Bonus Time than say Boots does. If you happen to live near a larger department store it may be worth popping in there for a visit as the value of the products you receive is probably more than you would earn in reward points from Boots or Debenhams.

6. Choose your products carefully. This is why it is useful to always visit the same counter and get to know the staff. Only go in when you know it will be quiet so that the staff have got the time to advise you properly. The people who work at Clinique counters have a genuine passion for beauty and skincare so taking the time to chat to them will help you get the most out of your purchases. Don't be afraid to ask to try products either as trying before you buy is essential. You don't want to spend £17 on a lipstick only to find it doesn't suit you. Never buy a product that you haven't tried in store or received a sample of during a promotional offer. That way you know it will work for you.

7. Make the most of new launches as there is usually a free or promotional offer to go with it. For example when the new Beyond Perfecting Foundation launched there was a free colour matched sample for every customer in store. You need so little of this foundation to make it work that my sample pot is still going strong so a quick trip into store was well worth it.

8. Don't be afraid to shop around as there are often deals available online that aren't available in store. Check the Clinique website carefully for offers. Sites such as Fragrencedirect.com often have Clinique products at discount prices and is always worth a look. Feeluinique.com allows you to choose your favourite brand and you always get 10% off with free shipping on orders over £10. This is very useful if you are too busy to go into the store and need to stock up on essentials.

9. If buying online always use Quidco which is an online cashback website. So far I've earnt £80 using this site so its well worth doing.

10. Most importantly always take advantage of instore services such as the Foundation Fit or skin type assessment. The key to getting the best value for your money is to only buy the products that will actually work for you. The more time you invest into choosing your products the better.

These are the methods that have worked well for me, if anyone has any other suggestions or tips I would love to hear them!

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.

Things that have made me happy this week

Its been a long week that has mostly consisted of revision but I have managed to squeeze in some fun things to stop me going completely crazy. So here is what I've been up to this week. I'm one exam down now with only one left to go next week.

1. Abbi's birthday. So last Wednesday was my absolute BFF's birthday and shes a whole 21 years old. In the three years I've known her shes always insisted on us making no fuss for her birthday but this year I decided to just totally ignore her requests and go all out. My original idea was just to get a small group of our geology friends together for dinner to celebrate. But then I thought her flatmates might like to be involved so I contacted one of them and we hatched our plan. It soon grew to include her friends from halls and rugby friends as well. It took a lot of planning to get 4 separate groups totaling 18 people in the same place at the same time so a massive thanks to Felicity for all her help (you're amazing). It was 100% worth it for the look on Abbi's face when she walked in and we were all waiting to surprise her. Thanks for being the best mapping partner a girl could wish for <3

2. Cheeky Nandos. Ok after all the social media buzz surrounding #cheekynandos I remembered I had never actually been. So as a revision break Jared and I went to the one in Southampton and it was everything I expected. The food was good but not amazing and the banter was out in force. I don't know if I'll go again but I'm glad I experienced this part of British culture.

3. New Clinique bonus time. I recently discovered the site feeluinique.com (I know I'm about a million years behind the times) and used it to restock on some favourite facecream from Clinique. Partly because I was too lazy to go to town but mostly because you got a free bonus time gift with it. This included the Super Defense Day cream, Liquid Facial Soap, High Impact Mascara, Blush in bashful blush and a Chubby Stick in Roomiest Rose. I can't stop wearing it, its just too pretty! Plus the bag it came with is pretty cute. And you can never have too many little make up bags.

4. Malcolm in the middle. Such an oldie but I never watched it back when it was actually on TV. I'm currently on season 3 and it makes me so incredibly happy. Mostly because their crazy lives are remarkably similar to my own childhood except I am one of 4 girls instead of boys. Whether you've already seen them or not they are perfect for procrastinating as each episode is only 20min long.

5. Real Techniques brushes. I've always been a massive fan of Ecotools brushes but they don't have as large a range as Real Techniques. Everyone seems to love them and they are a similar price so I thought I would give them a try. I got the powder brush as I don't currently have a nice big fluffy brush and the Expert face brush. I've always used a flat foundation brush and find it leaves streaks so this is perfect for buffing in your base. Plus they were on offer in Boots. A girl's gotta take advantage of these things.

6. Sisters coming to visit. All three of my sisters came down to Southampton for a day out shopping followed by dinner at Turtle Bay. I was naughty and got three new dresses and had the juiciest steak for dinner. But shopping and good food soothes the soul right? That aside though it was nice to spend some quality time with them as now that two of us are at uni we don't get to see each other as much as I would like.