Simple Skincare Haul

When I saw that Boots had the whole of the Simple skincare range at half price last week I thought it would just be plain RUDE not to invest in a few bits for myself.
I love Simple and have been using it on and off since I was probably about 14- alongside Nivea they have got to be my favourite drugstore skincare brand.
Being on a bit of a budget for the next year ( you can read about about that here) I will be splashing out less on more expensive high end products/brands and sticking to barry bargains which I know work well!
I picked up 7 products from the range and wanted to tell you all about them as I have been so excited about how cheap they are right now!

L2R : Facial Wash, Facial Toner, Facial Scrub, Light Moisturiser, Illuminating Cream, BB Cream & Handwash.

Simple Refreshing Facial Wash Gel - Was £3.39 Now £1.69

This is a product I've used before, but not for a long while! I have to have a facial wash in the shower for every morning, something to wake both me and my skin up and prep my skin ready for my morning skincare routine and make-up!

Simple Soothing Facial Toner - Was £3.29 Now £1.64

This is always my back-up when I run out of my Liz Earle Skin Tonic. This is something I use every morning and every night - I feel grotty without a toner!

Simple Smoothing Facial Scrub - Was £3.39 Now £1.69

I'm a scrub addict. Especially during the summer months when I feel I can notice build up so much more! For the price this is a total bargain - great to keep in the shower and use 1 or 2 times a week!

Simple Protecting Light Moisturiser - Was £4.35 Now £2.17 

I'm such a naughty girl when it comes to moisturising... after trying out a few thicker creams and my skin not reacting well I have become very distant from this everyday step. I used to use this as a teen and I thought for this cheap price - why not try it again! (So far so good...)

Simple Illuminating Radiance Cream - Was £6.59 Now £3.29

I have wanted to try this for so long, but my stingy self has refused to pay out the missley £6.59 for it haha! My Mum bought this months and months ago and said how much she liked it and I'm really glad I have finally bought it as it is lovely!

Simple Perfecting BB Beauty Balm - Was £6.29 Now £3.14

Again... I've wanted to try this since the day it came out! BB/CC creams are a favourite of mine for this time of year and I'm looking forward to using something a little lighter than my usual high coverage foundation. The only thing that worries me is that from what I saw there is only one shade... I haven't tried it yet so I'm hoping it will be okay!

Simple Handwash - Was £2.10 Now £1.05

Last but not least something for the kitchen/bathroom (which ever one runs out first!) I wash my hands alot so having something which is kind to skin is really good for me and for half the price I thought it would be a nice treat!

Do you use anything from Simple? What are your favourite products?

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My Top Highlighter Picks Under £7

 Highlighters are probably one of my favourite make-up products. For years now I have been obsessed with getting a pretty glowing complexion and the amount of products I have bought, tried and tested is endless! 
Some of the best highlighters I own and use most seem to be ones which don't break the bank - which is a total win-win situation right?
I've picked out 5 of my favourites to chat about today... and they are all under £7 ... most of them under £5! *Barry Bargain Alert!*
I've choosen a mix of brands plus a mix of both liquids and powders, as I know some of you are more of a fan of one than the other!

First up my ultimate favourite - 1. Seventeen's Skin Wow! Highlighter - £5.99. This is a product which I have raved and raved about since it was released in 2013 now! The amount of friends I've made buy this is countless now haha! The bottle of this stuff literally lasts me for months on end even though I use it daily and it is a great dupe for Benefit's High Beam at just the fraction of the price!
The most expensive of the bunch is the 2. Sleek Contour Kit - £6.49. Being a bronzer and a highlighter you can forgive it for being a little pricier than the others I'm featuring. I've already gone through one of these kits and had to buy a replacement, so for me this is a keeper! With the amount of different products I own and test to use one up completely is not something that happens regularly. The highlighter is a gorgeous alongside the matte bronzer, it's a lovely peachy shade, great for summer.
Next is the newest on the block which I actually did a review on not too long ago. 3. Rimmel Good To Glow Highlighter is only £4.99, a great price for one of the best high street brands in the UK. The shade I have is Notting Hill Glow and it is a lovely pearly liquid highlighter which I have been wearing more or less everyday under my foundation to highlighter certain areas, if you are a Rimmel fan this is a must-have for your collection.
The last two are both from one of the most popular bargain brands out there at the moment - Make-Up Revolution. 
Number 4. is the Make-Up Revolution Vivid Baked Highlighter and at only £3 is it the cheapest product. The shade I've shown here is Pink Lights and my favourite of the bunch. The lightest and pinkest of the lot this is a beaut... although the product pattern itself is a bit off-putting... let me know what you think it looks like.
Lastly we have 5. the Make-Up Revolution Radiant Lights Highlighter* - £5. These super pigmented powders are amazing value for money and with a range of shades there is a highlight for every skin tone. Pictured is the shade Exhale, a pretty creamy colour perfect for contouring aswell as highlighting.

What are your favourite highlighters? Do you like buying cheaper brands aswell as high end?

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4 Fab Drugstore Nudes

The nude lip is something which has, among other things, taken the beauty world by storm over the last 6 months.... did you notice?

 With Kylie Jenner being the role models we all look up to ... obvs, subtle nudes/browns and awesome lipliners have been flying off the shelves!

90s nudes were something I thought I would never see me rocking but with a few practice go's I've decided I love the look and alongside my favourite MAC baby Velvet Teddy I've invested in some newbies and dug out some old classics! Here's 4 of my favs!

Left to right :

Bourjois Velvet Rouge Edition - Nude-ist

I love this gorgeous matte colour! Compared to the others it looks more pinky/red but on the lips it is a gorgeous dark nude colour. These bourjois liquid lipsticks stay on SO well, for hours and hours without any re-application! If you looking for a product with great stay-time this collection is brilliant.

Maybelinne Colour Drama - Nude Perfection

This is currently my newest lip product I've bought. I have been looking at it for MONTHS now and at only £4.99 I have no idea why I haven't picked it up sooner. I have to say out of the 4 this is probably my favourite for quality and colour. It's a little darker than velvet teddy but if you're looking for a cheap alternative for a good new - this is the one.

Barry M Lipgloss - Toffee

The classic now.... I could not tell you how many of these I've been through since I was a teenager. This used to be my everyday lip colour, I was obsessed and probably applied it 90 times a day! It smells amazing too, it's about time I bought a new one. It's perfect to use of the top of Nude Perfection aswell.

Rimmel Apocalips - Nude Eclipse

The lightest of the four now. This one, for me, is definitely one to wear with a lipliner underneath. I think without it, it's slightly too light for my colouring but with it makes a gorgeous everyday colour! I love the rimmel apocalips and basically own them all, the best cheap liquid lipstick, they last and have an awesome range of colours!

Nude-ist | Nude Perfection | Toffee | Nude Eclipse

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Rimmel Kate Moss Spring Lipstick Releases 2015 : 35,36,37

New highstreet make-up releases always get me excited and purse twitchy but what I love more than anything is new additions to an already adored collection!

I have been using Rimmel's Lasting Finish Kate Moss lipsticks for years and years now and own definitely more than a handful. (Number 20 was my everyday lipstick for the longest time and I still LOVE that shade!)

 So seeing new shades being added to the range ready for spring made me jump for joy, my purse and then my camera!

 Time to share these new beauties with you.......

The formula for these is my favourite kind of formula for lipsticks, nice and creamy with great pigmentation, you really don't need alot of this to build up the colour - one sweep and you're done! 

 I have to say these lipsticks probably coms a close second to my MAC babies, but at only a 1/3 of the price! (and there's always offers to make them even cheaper... e.g. 3 for 2!) Hands down the best drugstore lipsticks out there.

There were only these 3 new ones in my local Boots store but I know there are another 2 lurking out there, shades 34 and 38 have also been released - so keep your eyes peeled.

Left to right : 35 | 36 | 37

35

A pretty baby pink - perfect for everyday wear to work for me, I think I'm going to pair it with Barry M's bubblegum lipgloss.

36

This is like the lighter sister shade of #20 from the range. A gorgeous fuchsia pink (which is my favourite lip colour to rock), I can see me getting alot of wear out of this!

37

This has given me hope that summer is on the way soon....fingers crossed! 

This shade is very,very similar to the matte KM lipstick in shade 110 - so if you love that colour but aren't keen on a matte finish then this is 100% the lipstick for you!

I wish this lipsticks had god damn names I hate them just being numbers.

These are available at both Boots & Superdrug and are priced at £5.49 each, but like I said keep yours eyes peeled for offers, right now they are on 3 for 2 in Boots!

What do you think? Any of these look like your sort of thing?

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E45 : My Skin Problems Sorted

This time of year (and this weather) plays havoc with my skin. It's only been the last few years that it's caused me a problem and I have spoke about it numerous times here on A Yellow Brick Blog so I am always trying out new products to try and help me out!

This is where E45 has come in. Yes they may seem like your standard clinical type non-girly/fun brand but in reality they WORK - and that's all that matters right?

My problem areas are mainly my lower legs and hands. 

I blame the ever changing temperature of the my surroundings for my legs - heating/air-con/ the outside! They tend to flare up at night and become really rashy and itchy, sort of like Eczema symptoms (sorry if you find this a bit gross!). I've never actually had eczema but it does run in my family - especially with my little brother.

So for my legs I have been using the E45 Moisturising Lotion. This lotion is of course dermogicially tested, something E45 are known for and pride themselves on. It is also perfume free and allergy-screened so it should be suitable for any skin type, even the most sensitive.

The lotion itself is a thin, light formula, not like the cheeky body butters we all love and rave about, but for me this makes is perfect for everyday use. 

Most mornings I'm rushing around getting ready for work so a thick, creamy formula which takes ages to sink in is a no-no. With this lotion absorption is quick which is great as I can add it into my morning routine with ease. It also has no real scent so isn't over-powering if you want to apply it to your whole body.

This stuff has worked wonders for my skin, it has soothed the rashes I seemed to be getting and kept my skin actually feeling hydrated which is seriously what it needed plus it protects it at the same time!

Now on my hands.   I have to say ... I think I give myself this dry skin problem, opps!

 I use alot of anti-bacterial hand gel, especially throughout my days at work. This has led to my hands becoming super dry, cracked and even rashy in patches - something I haven't actually experienced before, damn me about my germophobia!

Hand cream is something I use but don't have with me at all times (which isn't very helpful) so an overnight treatment seemed like the perfect thing for me to try out.

This is actually a new product from E45, I had seen the hand cream from them in Boots but this was actually the first time I had heard of the overnight treatment.

The Repair & Protect Overnight Hand Cream comes in a handy 50ml tube and promises to boost skin cell regeneration while you sleep!

The product itself is a light cream, which rubs in so quickly it feels just like a serum.

 I was worried I would be stuck with thick, greasy hands when going to sleep - which isn't great if you touch your face alot when in dreamland like me - but it really is the opposite, you barely know anything is on them!

I have to say this is a miracle worker, after just one night my dry skin and sore patches were totally gone, I am so impressed. This now lives on my bedside table and I know if I haven't used alot of hand cream throughout the day I can just pop this on at night and be sorted!

I have to say I am so, so pleased I have finally tried out some products from E45, they are  brand that has been around for so many years I can't believe it has taken me this long! I also love that they are affordable, unlike so many other brand which promise so much!

I am definitely going to be lending both of these to my brother to try aswell, they've worker for me so hopefully they can help him too!

What are your must-have products from skin problems? Have you tried either of these?

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My Winter Essentials : Lip Balms

Can you believe it's December already? Advent has started - yay! and it's time for another 'Winter Essentials' post!

Lip balms I think are probably on the top of everyones list as a winter essential! Cold weather, air-con and windy wind make our lips chapped, dry and even a bit gross and flaky!

Here's 4 of my top picks for lip balms  - these save me from getting that awful trip-lip that we all dreaded as children.... you know what I mean right?

Vaseline - Limited Edition Queen Bee

Vaseline is a classic, I'm sure 99% of you either own one o these handy tins or have done in the past. This years limited edition is called 'Queen Bee' - I love the name and the packaing alike! The scent is honey... obvs and alot nicer than I was expecting - another one to add to my never ending collection of tins! 

Carmex with Jasmine Green Tea

Carmex is a product I have used for years and years so when I see they've bought out new version I always want to try them out. You may remember me sharing this on here a few months ago! I'm a huge Green Tea fan so this is a win win for me! (plus it's my Mum's fav!)

EOS Strawberry Lip Balm

I got this in Florida along with a blueberry version and they have become a huge favourite of mine! This is the lip balm that is currently in my hand bag! It's easy to apply, smells amazing and keeps my lips hydrated!

Nivea Blueberry Blush Lip Butter

Nivea Lip Butter's have been something I've raved about for months and months. They all smell amazing and are just as good as vaseline for keeping the lips chap-free, smooth and soft! A total bargain too at only £2.20ish each!

What are your favourite lip balms for this time of year?

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L'oreal Colour Riche Blake's Pure Red Lipstick

FINALLY! I've been waiting for new L'oreal lady Blake Lively to get her own lipstick! After the seriously popular nude's collection from the glamorous faces of L'oreal I knew it wasn't going to be long until they bought out some more!

This time it's all about the reds and I'm SO pleased Blake has been involved!

The new Pure Red's Collection is made up of 4 new shades from the likes of Blake, Eva, Julianne & Liya. (and I'm sure at some point I'll own them all but I thought I'd limit myself to just the one for now..... it's not like a need another red lipstick!)

I am a huge Blake Lively fan and I won't lie - my purchase of this was heavily influenced by the fact her name was plastered on the front of it!

Blake, Serena, S, that druggie girl in The Town ... whatever you want to call her - she is a total stunner, I have become total captivated with her transformation into one of the most stunning women to hit the red carpets recently.

The lipstick itself is only £6.99 - I'm not sure weather this is a prmotional price of whether the Colour Riche lipsticks have been reduced permantly - a middle price for a high street brand and I was more than happy to pay it.

I love the shape of the bullet, it is slightly different to most products out there with a smaller and more pointed nib which makes it super easy to apply neatly and precisely. 

With Autumn more or less here I'm starting to prepare myself for less bright pinks and corals and more reds and deep purples! 

This shade is gorgeous, bold and has incredible staying power! L'oreal's lip products are always impressive and I have to say this is definitely my go-to red for now.... I think I may just go and buy the rest of the collection!

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Rimmel London Wonder'Full Mascara With Argan Oil Review

So I needed a new mascara AND Rimmel just happend to release a brand new mascara .... well that isn't a coincidence is it? Totes meant to be! So as soon as I could get my hands on it this beauty was straight in my basket and bought before you could say - long lashes!

I've been using a Maxfactor mascara for a while but I do try and re-purchase mascaras every 3 months or so, someone once told me that after 3 months there is enough bacteria in a mascara to kill a rat.... and I don't really want that near my eyeball!

My holy grail mascara is Maxfactor's Masterpiece Max and it has been for years, but I seem to be on a constant mission to find something better so when new mascaras are released I'm on it like a ninja turtle on pizza!

This is the new mascara from Rimmel. I haven't used a Rimmel mascara since buying the Lash Accelerator last year (which I love) so it was about time I went back to them.

What drew me most to the Wonder'full mascara, apart from the fact it's new, is that it is made with Argan oil! I swear this ingredient i slowly making it's way into every single product possible! It is said to leave your lashes feeling conditioned and soft - sometimes, especially after a hot day in summer, my eyelashes can feel so thick and clumped that this sounded like the perfect product for me to try!

It comes in a cute curved copper/bronze tube - I like that Rimmel always try to make their mascara packaging completely different to the last, this looks like nothing else in their range.

I had to check the brush before investing - I'm really not a fan of thick, bushy brushes - I have really small eyes so bushy, fluffy brushes just don't work out well for me.

The brush had is fairly big (compared to things such as the masterpiece max) but I love the thin, spikey bristles - that's my kind of comb!
 I find it so much easier to coat my short, stumpy lashes with brushes like this! The bristles feel really soft and light aswell, better than those dagger, death traps which aim in life is to poke your eye out.

Now onto the results and what I think.....

Looooooves it! I am quite picky with mascara and all the ones I have bought recently I just haven't been that impressed with... naming no names......
But this is lovely! I'm normally not that keen on brushes that are a bit flimsy and bend easily but I could actually use this beaut with ease! Wahooo go me!
My lashes become separated with just a coat or two and what I love the most is that it's NOT clumpy! 
My lashes still feel light and soft and along with my eyelash curlers this gives me a fab everyday look! (and it's easy to get off too!)

This little newbie is only £5.99 - a massive bargain in my opinion!
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Carmex Jasmine Green Tea Lip Balm

A new product from Carmex you say? With green tea you say? Well I obviously went out and flaming bought it didn't I!

I have been a huge huge fan of carmex for years, since buying as a young teen, after copying my Mum, this stuff has floated in and out of my collection and various handbags constantly!

With it's noteable scent and fab results, this lip balm is one of the best out there in it's price range and when I stumbled across this new 'flavour' I did an inner excitement sqeaul!

I love all things green tea related - I drink way too much of it and I love it so this was a perfect pick for me. 

The texture and feel is the same as the usual carmex tubes and the scent has a slight smell of the original scent but has a nice calming floral hint to it aswell!

I have been using this alot since opening it, I forgot how great Carmex is and this beaut has an SPF of 15 included aswell which is perfecto for Summer!

Bargain lip balm that you can get in most drug stores - a must have for the handbag!

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Do

My Top Beauty Buys £5 and under | Youtube

Remember that post I did recently?
My top beauty products under £3 - well here's the next one in the series... although this time it's in snazzy video form, so grab a cuppa, get comfy and have a cheeky watch of A Yellow Brick Vlog.....

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My Top Beauty Buys £3 and under

So... I'm a bit of a cheap skate! Okay no, I'll re-word that... I love a bargain! And if there's  product out there that works well and is super cheap then well, it's just a win win really isn't it?

I always get so much feedback on posts which include bargain products so I thought I would start sharing some of my favourite 'cheaper' beauty buys!

Starting with my top picks of things £3 and under!

 I've picked a variety of products ranging from skin to hair to my fav - make-up! These are all amazing and I repurchase alot of them I have used for years and repurchase again and again!

First up I've included some daily essentials!

Mitchum Roll On Shower Fresh : I have used this deodorant for the last.... well I don't remember a time when I didn't use it! It works perfectly for me, I never sweat and I never smell, the perfect roll on! I hve recommended this to so many people over the years and always get great feedback and it's only £2.89!

Boots Cotton Wool Double Faced Oval pads : These are hands down the best cotton wool pads to get! They are large, thick and you definitley only need one! These are my favourite to use with my Liz Earle Skin Tonic, I haven't used any other cotton pads in years. They are just £1.89.

Nivea Soft 75ml Tube : Yes, this stuff was recently mentioned in my May Favs but that won't stop me from bringing it up again, no sir! I love this stuff and have used it every evening for probably a year now, I recently decided to start buying the small tubes and am finding them brilliant - they are usually £2.49 per tube but they were on offer in Superdrug for half price so I grabbed a few extra last week!

Boots Essentials Cucumber 3 Minute Clay Mask : I've raved about this alot, I even did a whole post on it here. For only £1.50 this stuff is a steal! Great for all skin types and it's fab for giving yourself a nice weekly facial, smells nice and is super gentle.

Coconut Oil : This is one of the those miracle products that everyone beauty lover must own. This stuff is amazing for dry skin and even cooking but my favourite thing to do is cover my hair root to tip and leave on for at least 8 hours! Leaves my hair feeling healthy, soft and smelling amazing! A pot like this lasts ages and it's only £2.29.

Montange Jeunesse Face Mask Sachets : ANY of these beauts are in my top beauty buys for under £3! Being only £1 each these are a fantastic cheap treat that I have become addicted too! There are so many to choose from so there literally is one for everyone! This coconut one is great for hydrating dry skin - so perfect for the upcoming hot summer months!

Lastly we've got a few make-up bargains!
Rimmel Eyebrow Pencil : I have used this pencil for years and it has seen my through thick and thin (and yes I am being literal there haha!), I can't tell you how many of these I've got through over the years, I use this everyday! Only £2.99!
Collection Bronze Glow Mosiac Powder : This bronzer is fairly new in my make-up collection but that doesn't make it any less of a bargain! Perfect for summer! £2.99!
Make-Up Revolution Vivid Baked Highlighter : This brand is a bargain brand in itself! This is my favourite product I have tried from MUR so far - I even did a whole post on it - here. For only £3 this is the perfect finishing touch to a lovely glowing full-face!
MUA One Direction Lipstick : This is golden oldie (from last year....), I love these lipsticks - they are great quality and gorgeous colours and for £3 you can't go wrong really!

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3 Fab Lipstick Dupes

I love a good dupe when it comes to make-up, but then again who doesn't?!

 Knowing that you can get nearly the same fab product but for a fraction of the product's price tag is one good feeling!

 I'm always reading and looking out for other bloggers dupe posts so I thought it was about time that I started sharing with you guys dupe that's I have discovered over the last few years!

First up is three lipsticks that I seem to have copycats of - I love higher end and drugstore lipsticks just as much as each other... just FYI!

Lipstick Dupe #1

Mac Girl About Town (£15) VS Rimmel Moisture Renew Lily Extase (6.49)

Saving : £8.51

If you've read my blog before you may know that Girl About Town is my favourite Mac lipstick that I own! 

I am such a fuchsia lover and it's always a go-to shade for me! It wasn't until recently that I noticed stumbled across this lipstick by Rimmel in my collection and saw how similar they are!

I know that the Moisture Renew lipsticks have had a bit of a make-over recently so I'm not sure if this shade is still available but if you can get your hands on it I highly recommend you do! They are both super hydrating, pigmented and have a great long-lasting finish.

Lipstick Dupe #2

No7 Stay Perfect Gay Geranium (£9.75) VS Seventeen Stay Pout Make An Entrance (£4.49)

Saving : £5.26

These are both Boots brands and I think most people see Seventeen as the "younger, hipper" version of the formal No7.

Even the name of the products are similar, the only main difference being the price! The Seventeen lipstick is less than half the price of the No7 and for me the quality is totally equal! The colours of both are stunning and so stand out, although the Stay Pout is only very slightly darker than the Stay Perfect!

Lipstick Dupe #3

Mac Matte Lipstick Candy Yum-Yum (£15) VS Barry M Lip Paint 62 (£4.49)

Saving : £10.51

This is probably the best dupe I've found so far! I have been buying Barry M lipsticks and glosses for years and really do swear by them! The colours are amazing and they are still some of the cheapest on the drugstore market! 

Of course I LOVE my Mac lipstick but if you aren't up for paying the price of mac or just wanted to see weather a colour this vibrant would suit you before splashing out the Barry M alternative is totally and utterly perfect!

So there's 3 fab dupes for you all - let me know weather you like this type of post and if you would like to see anymore! 

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