The 6 Best Things About Shopping Online

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I do alot of my shopping online. Like, alot. 
Living in a place where my options are seriously limited I have learnt from a young age that the internet is the greatest place to have a good browse and spend up!
So I thought I'd put together some of my favourite things about shopping online.

1. Options - SO Many Options
I live on the Isle Of Wight so when I say my options are limited..... I am NOT kidding! I have to get a boat if I even want to pop to Primark which is a bit of an effort (and expensive) when you just want some cute pjs and cheap shoes.
 I'd say 90% of the clothing I buy is from online, same goes for alot of my make-up too - I can browse any store I want and find everything I cannot get hold of here in my home town. 

2. Comfort 
This has got to be everyone's favourite perk of online shopping. You can do it from the very comfort of your own home.
 Yes I am one of those girls who sits braless on my sofa drinking tea and flicking through 500 pages of the ASOS sale! I've even been known to order things whilst walking to work.... the joys of 3G eh?!
Better than carrying a million shopping bags and being stuck behind slow walkers right? 

3. Voucher Codes = God Send
One of my ultimate number one tip-top tips for the internet. Always search for a voucher code before purchasing anything.
 I literally don't buy anything without quickly seeing if I can save money on it before hand. The amount of money I have saved over the years from doing this is insane - I don't understand people who don't do it!
In what shop can you walk up to the counter, go to purchase something and before popping your card in ask... 'can I save money on this?' NONE!
 Voucher Bin -  http://www.voucherbin.co.uk is awesome for this - even if it's just 10% off or free postage, it all helps!  Just search the site you're shopping on or want to shop on in the search bar and all the current codes will come up for you!
 You can also look through categories, of my favourite to look in is Health & Beauty (obviously), if I'm after a certain product I like to shop around for the best code and then buy it from that particular site, such an easy way to save money on something you were going to buy anyway, make sure you check it out!

4. Individuality/Personal Style
Being on a tiny island it's not uncommon to see people with alot of the same stuff. Nowadays, yes, it's alot less than when I was younger as so many people do use the web but with only one decent fashion store in my town I see ALOT of people wearing the same popular garment/ensemble. 
The internet is an amazing place to find bits that no-one else will, there are so many sites (especially for fashion) it's so much easier to rock your own style and buy things (hopefully) others won't.

5. Bargains - the endless amount of bargains!
Where else are you going to find a top for £2 or a dress that used to be £45 down to £7? I LOVE bargains and I basically live on the sale section of websites! 
All that good topshop sale stuff is NEVER in store, so having the website there to browse through is amazeballs right? (Until it's sold out but you don't find that out until you click on it.... damn you!) 
eBay, ASOS, Brandalley - you can get some serious savings all from a few clicks of a mouse!

6. Who doesn't love getting post?
Last but not least ..... post! 
Getting that parcel you've been waiting for pop through your letterbox is the best right? As long as it comes on time! (*cough*ASOS Premier looking at you *cough*) 
Yes sometimes we may have to send things back if they don't fit but most places now do free returns (I HATE places that don't offer that!).
But for thing like make-up and other beauty products I cannot explain my excitement when they arrive!

What are your favourite things about shopping online!?

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Get A L'oreal Liquid Lipstick Better Than Half Price!

If you read my blog/twitter/facebook etc you have probably noticed how much I LOVE a good bargain.
Sometimes I see an offer that is so good I just can't say no no matter how skint I may be.... this was one of those offers!

It was over a year ago now that I first blogged about the L'oreal L'Extraordinaire Liquid Lipsticks and how much I had fallen in love with them (see that glowing review - here) and since then my fuchsia drama baby has been used over and over again, becoming a regular in my make-up bag.

So seeing this HUGE saving on one of my favourite L'oreal products ever had me squealing with excitement. 
The make-up giant has teamed up with the drinks giant that is Coca Cola - so at Boots now when you buy a 500ml bottle of diet coke you SAVE £5 on your liquid lipstick! 
Bringing the usual £8.99 price tag down to just £3.99. (Cheaper than most drugstore lip products out there ya know AND you'll get points on your advantage card!)

 I decided to go with the nice summery shade 'Rose Symphony' (201), seeing as we are soooo nearly there - summer is on the way people! This is a gorgeous pinky shade with a sight coral tint, the formula to these is amazing and I'm so happy I have another one added to my collection.... in fact... I feel like I should go back and take advantage of this offer while it lasts really!

(And yes.... we all know I don't actually like coke .... but Joe does so it's all good! It won't go to waste!)
This offer is valid in Boots stores nationwide from April 29th - 26th May!

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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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Seventeen SUPERLash Mascara & SUPERLash Liner Review

Before you say it.... I know - I'm on a spending ban -but this was too much of a bargain to just walk past and ignore!
My current/all-time favourite mascara, Maxfactor's Masterpiece Max, is running low and rather than forking out the £10 it is for a new one I thought I would give this penny-saver a go. Saving money AND trying out a brand new product - Deal!

This is the brand new mascara from Seventeen, a brand that seems to be on my blog ...alot. (what can I say, I'm loving them!) It is the Super Lash Mascara and as it is a newbie, Seventeen have got a fabulous saving on it at the moment.

 Just £4.99 for the mascara (Saving £2 from the full price of £6.99) and not only that but you get a FREE Super Lash eyeliner to go with it! (as me and my pals would say... a barry bargain!)

I can be a bit fussy with mascara and only really like thinner-type brushes - ones that are more like combs, so before purchasing I quickly hopped onto the Boots website and looked for a photo of the brush (because there were 0 on the stand!) And thank the lord... it looked thin - and it is!

I colour I bought was Blackest Black (I wouldn't ever buy any different!) but I think they also do a black/brown for those of you who prefer that!
The packaging is super cute - bright red and yellow.... a bit like a super hero costume - I'm not going to loose that one in the make-up bag easily!

Ive been using this for the past few days and have been really liking it! I would definitley recommend 2 coats of this stuff. After one coat I wasn't overly excited at the outcome but after applying a little more over the top I was happy that it looked just as good as my Maxfactor baby that I cherish! (Not sure weather they were 93% longer loking but... I liked it!0
My only one problem so far with this product has been a bit of a panda eye effect. After a long day at work I seemed to have slight black ring underneath my eyes - which to my understanding would only be from this product as I haven't changed anything else! I am a bit guilty of a panda eye look some days - I literally don't know what I do wrong but it has seemed to be a bit worse than usual.  
That is after a long 9 hour day - so maybe I can forgive?? (Does anyone have any tips at avoiding panda eyes? ... I would love to hear them!)
So yes, this has a thumbs up from me and my bank account! Now.... the Super Lash Liner.

Eyeliner's are something I'm not too fussy with. I try them all - pencil, khol, liquid, gel, felt tip .... I haven't found a holy grail yet just lots that I am a fan of!

And well... this was free so of course I was going to try it!
First of all I love that is has a felt tip type tip, I find them so easy to use and with it being an angled tip aswell it makes it even easier.
As I have really small eyes I don't use a huge amount of eyeliner as if I do my eyes become non-existent! (not a great look for me!)
I've used this on my lower lash line and it was so easy. 
With this particular tip I think this would be fab for doing the upper lash line and flicks as it is so easy to be precise and neat with your lines!

So there we have it, another mascara and eyeliner sitting firmly in my make-up bag and all for less than £5!
Have any of you tried these out yet?

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The Spending Ban

So if you've been seeing my tweets this week you will know that I have officially put myself on a spending ban.
I may have just booked a holiday to the most magical place on earth.... Yup that's right I am going to Disneyworld in Orlando, Florida on September 16th 2014. 

Me in Orlando - March 2012

 So this means I need money and with my Disney obsession.... alot of it!
 Not only do I need to pay off the holiday (ouch!) but I need spending money to make sure we (my boyfriend and I) can do anything and everything we want too while we are out there.
I have been to Disney before - back in 2012 when I was travelling the USA with a friend so I know what to expect and how much money I should really take with me.
Not only is there Disney but Universal too - and we want to do the lot! (Very doubtful we'll get to Seaworld & Discovery Cove aswell.... but after hearing all these Black Fish stories and things I'm not sure I want to!)

So that has called for the Spending Ban - no more buying things for the sake of it. Before I buy anything I need to go through the thought process - Do I NEED this? and if the answer is well... no Kirstie you don't - then no purchasing for me!
This is going to be a tough one for me as I am such a spendoholic but I've done it before, when I went round the US, and I shall do it again and I'm hoping it will help me in a number of ways.

1. Get through all the products I already own. I have so so many products that are just at on a shelf, some I've used maybe just once and others I haven't even tried yet - so why do I need to buy more? I don't! Maybe I'll find some amazing stuff and new favs!

2. Find old favourites. I'm hoping by using only the things I already own and not buying anything new (unless it is something seriously need like when my Liz /earle products run out every month) that I'll re-find favourties from months/years ago! 
I have so much that I've used, loved and then something else has taken it's place - this has happened so many times that I just have so many products that I love but not enough time, face, hair, body to use them all - now I will have time because there will be nothing to take their place!

3. Wearing clothes more than once.  It isn't only beauty products that I am obsessed with over-buying I am also a serial offender for clothes. 
Buying a dress - wearing it once on a night out and then never looking at it again? Yup that is me (hangs head in shame)! 
This year I am determined to break this habit and wear clothes to death! It's time to start buying things that I know I can wear for a number of occasions both day and night and not just one item for one occasion! This, I know, will save me so so much money!

These are just 3 things I'm hoping to gain, as well as saving lots of money, through doing this spending ban! There's going to probably be less hauls coming up but hopefully alot more empties posts!
I know there is going to be so many products that test me.... I've already seen a few newbies that are going to be so hard resist but I know it will all be worth it when I'm driving into Disneyworld with a big smile on my face and a purse full of money to spend!

Are any of you on a spending ban or been on one before? Any tips you can give me?

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