Bargain Beauty Buys

With the summer sales in full swing I’ve traipsed around the shops and trawled through hundreds of online pages  to bring you some of the best beauty bargains out there .

Marks and Spencer

Not one of my regular beauty haunts, I must admit but whilst browsing in the home department I wondered along (like a moth to a flame) to the beauty sale. Stock was limited but there’s some bargains to be had – this is what I picked up

Lazy Spa – Shape up contouring gel Was £6 now £1.50

This all over intensive body contouring gel contains CellActive® – Shape and witch hazel. Combined with massage, these active ingredients help to firm, tone and reduce the appearance of cellulite. With a beach holiday coming up, it’s got to be worth a go.

Busy But Beautiful Body Shimmer BalmWas £5 now £1.50

Give your skin a subtle luminescence with this sexy scented body balm. I was more attracted to the tin, which you can re-use as a great make-up brush holder or a stylish case for all your beautiful cosmetics, but the balm itself is a lovely highlighter type balm for the body and smells divine.

ASOS

A lot of people don’t realise that ASOS stocks beauty treats, as well as fashion faves. Their ever expanding beauty department includes brands such as GHD, Nails Inc, Illamasqua and Soap and Glory.

There’s some great bargains to be had in their summer sale, here are my top pics…

Nails Inc SS11 Collection Was £25.00 NOW £16.25

Featuring four on-trend colours, ideal for creating this season’s colour-clash nails. Including Wellington Square, a pastel peach inspired by the coral tones at Fendi, Hampstead, a subtle biscuit beige, Queensgate Terrace, a soft cornflower blue and Brook Street, a vivid pinky coral. Inspired by the catwalks and this season’s on-trend colours, they are ideal for creating fashion-forward looks.

Soap & Glory ‘Clear Here’ Oil Control Daily Moisture Lotion 50ml Was £8.20 NOW £4.75

Oil control daily moisture lotion by Soap & Glory. Designed to smooth and protect then skin whilst helping to minimize pore, prevent spots and control shine.

Cheap Smells

Another of my go to online beauty shops – great for cult favourites at discount prices including YSL Touche Eclat and Elizabeth Arden Eight hour cream

I also spotted…

Elizabeth Arden – Color Intrigue Gel Eyeliner and Brush with a whopping 81%off WAS £26 NOW £4.95 Available in Ocean Teal and Brown

Lancome Colour Design Eye shadows from £5.95

Topshop

I picked up a set of 3 lip polishes for just £5 in store – fabulously glossy and available in 3 great colours.

Don’t worry if there’s nothing left in your nearest Topshop, there’s still a few online beauty bargains like Gel EyeLiners, various colours WAS £8, NOW £2

Happy Summer Sales!

SUMMER NAILS: Current Top 5

I’ve been having a serious sort out lately (once you start you just can’t stop) and I discovered all sorts of things I forgot I had, love it when that happens! Anyway, I had a good rumage through my nail polishes and selected my top 5 summer nails…

Kindly modelled by my (reluctant) little sister…

No7 Stay Perfect – Very Petal

This is a hot pink, perfect for fingers and toes, very summery. I think No7 polishes are pretty good quality – one or two coats does the job.

Nails Inc – Shoreditch

One of my all time favourite shades. A bold, hot pink that’s incredibly glossy. Similar to the No7 one but a touch more barbie pink. 2 coats with an under and over coat works a treat and lasts ages.

Barry M – Limted Edition Shade 105

The pinky/lilac shade has the WOW factor. So eye catching – it screams summer. The thin, non-glupey consistency makes it a dream to apply….Great value at £2.99. Read full review here.

Nails Inc – Bruton Street

Looks similar to Barry M’s in the pictures but it’s a more milky, beige lilac. Great for everyday sophistication.

Nails Inc – Candy Orange

A break from my traditional pinks and Lilacs, I’m loving this candy orange. Very on trend, summery and came free with this months’ Instyle magazine, yet another reason to love.

Hardly a professional paint job I know, but she’s 12 and CAN’T sit still

HOT DEAL: Half price Nails Inc set

This Deal’s too good not to share…

Right now at Debenhams bag 6 Smokin Hot Nails Inc polishes for just £25, that’s just over £4 per bottle. The set includes 6 full size, gorgeous and on trend colours – both BRIGHT and NEUTRAL. Great as a gift, but even better to keep for yourself.

I’m not sure how long this offer is valid for so be quick, before I buy them all up 🙂

Something for the weekend

Mad about Mad Men? Then you’ll LOVE Nails Inc’s newest collection.

Never one to miss a trick, Nail’s Inc have launched a Mad Men inspired collection to coincide with the launch of Mad Men season four on DVD. The limited edition nail polishes, consisting of…

Madison Avenue – a chic forest green

Westchester – a glossy dark red

Brooklyn – a stylish chalky beige,

All inspired by Betty, Joan and Peggy – the shows leading style sirens. The collection oozes 50s glamour and are the perfect accessory to Spring/Summer’s retro fashions. All you need now is your very own Donald Draper.

Betty, Joan and Peggy, which are you?

Available in Nails Inc stockist nationwide £11 each

Orange Make up – Eek or Chic?

I make no secret of the fact that I’m a big fan of corals and peaches but ORANGE, is that a step too far? As we know it was a huge look at the Spring/Summer 2011 catwalks, but can it translate for real people living real lives?

With celebs including Fergie, Scarlett Johansson and  Chloe Sevingy embracing tangerine trend, it looks like it’s working its way down the food chain, so should we get ready?

The thought of wearing orange or neon make up in general conjures up not so fond memories of scrunchies and cycling shorts, but in my attempt to overcome the 80s trauma I’m ready to give it a go… are you?

Starting with nails

I’m rocking Nails Inc’s Candy Orange nail polish today (courtesy of InStyle magazine) which looked pretty funky at home when I was applying it, but today in the outside World, I’m worried I look like I’ve coloured them in with a highlighter pen.  Still, they’re bright, bold and oh so eye catching and for summer, I think they fit right in.

That’s a thumbs up for the nails (I think) but zesty eyes and lips may be a step too far; That I’ll leave to models, teenagers and Top of the Pops 2.

The good…

Fendi Spring Summer 11

The bad…

Not so Fergilicious

If you’re feeling brave, here’s my top punpkin picks.

Illamasqua Toxic Nature Collection Lipstick in Flare £15.50

MAC lipstick in Neon Orange £13.50

FREE Lunch Time Treats… Nails Inc Polish

Ladies you might want to hot fot it down to your nearest newsagents for a free treat… Well kinda free. With this month’s InStyle magazine, featuring the beautiful Thandie Newton on the cover, you can bag yourself a free Nails Inc polish worth £11.

Available in three exclusive and HOT shades Candy Orange, Electric Teal and Fashion Fawn.

I’ve picked up the candy orange as it fits nicely with my current obsession for all things bright and beautiful. The teel’s pretty cute too, and the Fawn is very similar to Barry M’s mushroom, which I already have.

Not content with one, why not pick up all three.

June edition on sale (and flying off the shelves ) now £3.70

Nail Polish fit for a (future) King… The Royal Collection from Nails Inc

Forget buffets and bunting, to be prepared for the Royal Wedding, all you need are regal nails.

I must admit I wasn’t that excited when Kate and Willy announced their engagement, no more excited than I would be about any other couple in the public eye announcing their impending nuptuals. I didn’t feel the need to rush out and buy a copy of Kate’s blue dress or tacky wedding memorabila from Collectables. However, with an additional public holiday and a new kick ass Royal Wedding inspired nail polish collection from Nails Inc, I’m slowly getting on board (fickle I know).

 To celebrate the Royal wedding in their own unique way, Nails Inc have launched an amazing limited edition range.

The elegant ‘Kate’ Sapphire crystal nail polish. £15

Inspired by Kate’s engagement ring, this beautiful sapphire crystal cap is a must have for your dressing table!

But not to be outdone by his future queen, there’s The ‘Will’ Union Jack crystal nail polish £15

An eternally classic shade with the coolest, glitziest cap ever, Royal and Wonderfully British

Or for the full regal look…

Royal collection, £25

4 limited edition glossy nail polishes to nail the regal look.

So on April 29th, I plan to enjoy the day off, watch the wedding on TV and raise a bottle in their honour, of polish that is.

Available online and in store now.

Hot Deal: Free Nails Inc Polish with Diet Coke

Boots, Nails Inc and Diet Coke have teamed up to give away the chicest nail polishes of the season, and it couldn’t be easier to get your hands on them.

Simply buy two 500ml bottles of Diet Coke at selected Boots stores and you will receive one of the Limited Edition nail polishes from Nails Inc. The difficult part is choosing which of the gorgeous Limited Edition shades to bag: Denim, Caramel, Plum and Heather Grey.

The offer is available now while stocks last. So hotfoot it down to your nearest Boots!

My favourite, Caramel…