Freedom london

Yet more budget beauty. My quest for budget beauty continues and this pretty little lot was delivered to australia for around $60

freedom makeup is a new launch which I had seen being tagged as #macforthemasses whilst I am not a huge fan this really reeled me in. Imagine such quality products at affordable prices!

I chose two bronzers ( animal print), two blush and highlight kits, an eyeshadow pallette and three lip butters. As always I am not planning to swatch everything but just show you some items on the face and have a general chat about them. So far I like the products, they smell nice quite powdery but nice, the eyeshadows feel a bit more creamy than I like and half of them are more glittery ( not glitter though as I hate this) and the other is a perfect everyday slight sheen. The blush and highlight kits are just lovely so much selection and honestly gorgeous colours these are complete winners for me. I have used the setting spray and will continue to do so and so how this affects the staying power of my makeup.

One product which has really suprised me is the lip butters. These look like a gloss in packaging with a wand applicator but are much more matte. They have a fairly sheer but build able colour and I really like them. Your lips needs to be in good condition but I think they are really wearable, non sticky, and a nice alternative to gloss.

Have you tried freedom london? They currently have 20% off if you sign up which takes the bargains to even better value. I would definitely recommend the blush and highlight palettes, shadow palettes and lip butters.

Here are a few pics of my ugly mug wearing some of the products. If you want proper swatches shout!

Today

Today has been one of those days. The sun has been shining, milly has been so happy, my husband is home, we shared looking after her so he had time to renovate the house and I hd time to work from home. I sat in the sun with my daughter and my bump and freshly laundered bedding blew in the breeze on the line. My husband and daughter happily went for a afternoon walk around the duck pond whilst I worked from home in the sun.

Pretty bloody amazing and textbook. This would probably be a really popular post if I didn’t tell you the rest of the picture. Today was awesome but my husband was home as we have all been sick ….. For weeks. Today is the first day all three of us have felt good. The sun warmed my skin and bones and I didn’t feel like my head was going to explode with gunked up sinus pain. My laundry was done but the house is not clean. It’s surface clean but not clean clean because what is the point when we are midst renovations and more dust is generated daily. After all the shocking events of the weekend we are reminded life is not perfect but if those sheets blowing in the breeze can make you smile, small feet walking round a pond shouting duck can make you smile and curling up for ceasar salad and chicken wings whilst watching the voice with your husband makes you smile then smile on… If you don’t smile at the small stuff today you may not get a chance to tomorrow.

I am sad about the loss the world has suffered this weekend but I am going to smile at the small stuff daily for the people who can’t.

are you sad? What small things make you smile?

W7 cosmetics

Forget minimalism lately I have been loving budget beauty. Without all the extra cash of two incomes I have been diligently applying myself to trying some brands I normally overlook! W7 came to my attention because some of the products appeared to be very similar to some higher end faves of mine. Available from chemist warehouse I think W7 is actually a uk brand. My only gripe is lack of availability of all items- there is more I would love to try.

I tried the flirty lashes mascara. I felt this had a similar brush to benefit they’re real but for me did not perform as well. I liked it and thought it was great for everyday but it wasn’t quite as good. I have heard absolute lashes is a much better dupe and I will try this when I see it.

The honey queen honeycomb blush looks really similar to a lot of benefit blushes. I don’t like to pay high end prices for cardboard package as it can look ratty quickly and doesn’t travel well in my opinion. I really like this blush for a soft, subtle daily look with bb cream and lipbalm.

Alternatively with a statement lip where you want blush which won’t clash!

The gel liner is excellent in my opinion. I am more of a liquid liner girl but this stuff doesn’t budge all day! Winning I have been reaching for this more and more. Very black in colour and good longevity.

Finally the looser, for me, the light diffusing concealer is a bit lumpy, dry and chalky and I just don’t love it!

what W7 products do I need to try next?

Benefit

I had a massive spree! When I left my previous job I was given a voucher for myer. I had said I would get milly something nice but my husband said no treat yourself. I was going to get clothes but as I am pregnant again I new that wouldn’t work so I popped to benefit.

I like benefit products, have a history of using them, think they are cute and quirky but also pretty expensive for what they are. That said I really like some of these things!

I chose rollerlash. After trading in some old curlers for a trial size of this I was sold and honestly it is worth it. I have no doubt a series of cheaper alternatives will become available eventually but for now this is the ducks nuts!

The three tint balms. I was going to just get a cha cha balm but there was so little price difference with these sets I was sold. I’m actually really glad because the cha cha tint ( which is more coral) is my least favorite with a preference for positing (pink) or benetint (red).

I bought the cha cha tint for my cheeks. (And lips) and really enjoy this. Historically I have had benetint and I got a small positing in a Christmas set but I really like the coral colour of the cha cha to walk your face. As with the others you have to work quickly but it is long lasting and natural looking. It is very build able for a bold lip if that’s what you are after.

Finally in my xmas set I got a small high beam and had been really enjoying this to make me glow. I fancied the sunbeam to accompany the warmer cha cha tint but when I tried it the glitter seemed more prominent than in the high beam and less finely milled. I didn’t like this I want sheen not shimmer. I explained this to the assistant and she suggested watts up! Traditionally used under foundation when used as a highlight over it provides a lovely subtle but slightly warm sheen- I really like it.

These were my buys. They threw in a few samples including they’re real push up liner. This lasts amazingly but I don’t know if I love the applicator.

what do you recommend from benefit? Are you tempted?

Lately

Lately I have been pretty evasive, I have tried to kick goals but I have been exhausted and the couch has been calling. I have done my best as a mum but there have been times when dinner has been sandwiches with chopped tomatoes on the side and biscuits. I have tried to stick with healthy eating for myself but all I have wanted in white carbs. I have honestly only had the energy to focus on jut muddling through and doing the best I can. Like a butterfly emerging 12 weeks have passed and I feel much better again. I may not have been perfect but I have been working on the best gift, in my opinion, you can give a child. A brother or sister. I am sure she will forgive me a few vegemite sandwiches for dinner to have a playmate for life!

Do you ever have times in life where you just have to do what you have to do?

Things of late

Here are things I have been loving/ thinking lately

1. We need to get on top of finances and tighten up. Whilst not in a bad place we could try harder.

2. Have you heard of food revolution ? I had their maxi box delivered and it was so much fruit and veg for $50. I am impressed and will use them weekly with a monthly supermarket delivery to save costs.

3. I have christmas money still left and am planning to get new lululemon run inspire crops ( x 2) and a cardy from jeans west sale. Also there are a few beauty bits I have ear marked, but for now I am waiting because of no 4.

4. For my 21st birthday I got a Gucci watch. I have worn it almost daily for over 10 years. I love it. It broke. I don’t think they sell them anymore. I hope it can be fixed, if not I need a new watch.

5. Who do you think you are? Best tv show ever!

6. I have a sick munchkin and I hate it. Let me be ill for her.

7. I am ready to organise my house and feeling motivated.

8. I am motivated to watch my diet and exercise also- lets do this!

9. Minimalism is back on the cards.

10. I have three new books to read over the coming few weeks/ months

What are you loving/thinking?

P50p

Yet more items

Mitchum deodorant- standard repurchase

Pantene ice shine shampoo- hate this it made my hair feel coated

Christopher Robin prickly pear conditioning mask- this was so lovely. It was in my look fantastic box but was £50 to repurchase and I just couldn’t bring myself to spend that money.

Thai body scrub- ewwww. Smelled so fake and wasn’t that scrubby. I ended up binning this.

L’occitane huile d’almonde. Oh my lord I love this stuff and got it on a great strawberrynet deal. It’s so expensive for shower gel but luckily a friend bought me another one so I am not too devastated! I will be when the next is gone though.

Balance me revitalizing hand and body wash. I really liked this and would use it again. It made a nice change from dr bronners.

What have you finished lately?

June goals

Holy moly when did june happen?

This year is seriously flying by and I need to get my act in gear, we have so much to achieve before the year is out and life is whizzing by so I thought monthly goal setting may help.

* gym routine twice per week, plus one body balance class and one big walk
*get back to really nutritious eating. I have been tired and flat and this should really help.
*finalise work plans and start work- eeeek I don’t want to count my chickens but it looks like I have a short term contract
* get Milly used to new babysitter ( for above)
*get quotes to fix car
* service other car
* get quotes and tee up home renos work
* get on top of finances and cut back again- to start saving (woohoo)
*have holiday down south
*start selling unused furniture
* read two books
* use up freezer food and cupboard items ( try only buying fresh produce)

As the renovations happen I am going to take it as an opportunity to go through room by room and decluttering and deep clean. This will be over the space of a few months I think and I am so looking forward to this as another step towards minimalism!

What are your June goals?