What I Bought In London: June 2016

On Saturday I headed to London for the first time in what felt like forever for the Bloggers Ball (Post on that tomorrow!). Pre-attending with my little sister, we decided to hit up Oxford Street, with the intention of me looking at Wedding Shoes – and us looking at some high street bridesmaid options, but we didn’t really make it past two shops!

Topshop

We spent a significant time in Topshop and didn’t even leave the ground floor! Staying in accessories and beauty (to which I nearly bought some sunglasses, but they didn’t have any new pairs of the ones I’d settled on left 😢 ) but still managed to find a few bits.

her-curious-nature-hairgrips-topshop

First up was these hair grips from a brand which I’d never heard of before called Her Curious Nature- and I think only stocked in the massive Oxford Street empire. Priced at £12.50 I thought these may be a pretty grip should I need them for my wedding, with a 1920’s vintage matte gold design and milky opally hue to the gems – so I’m going to keep these by for a few months until I’ve picked my dress and have a better idea how my hair might be as a result, but if not they’ll just fall into my hair accessories pot!

colab-active-dry-shampoo

I’ve not been getting on fantastically with the Fudge Dry Shampoo that I’ve bought recently, I will use it up, but if I need a dry shampoo that doesn’t give me a slightly powdery feel and white cast to the hair then I’ve ran out of options. I couldn’t resist picking up a can of the new Colab Active Dry Shampoo, not only doing what you’d expect a dry shampoo to do, but adding UV & Pollutant protection, suitable for those who are on the go and active. Expect reviews on this as soon as I’ve tried it!

topshop-socks

By the checkouts they had a load of discount items, literally a few days before going to London I felt the need to buy some frilly socks – because you know, I want to look like a child – and when I saw this pretty coral and mint pair reduced to £1 each they had to come with me!

topshop-eyeshadow

Lastly a slightly disappointing one, was this eyeshadow, as I was purchasing it the girl dropped it and I asked if it was broken and she said no, but it has come loose from the bottom and sadly my local topshops only have tiny sections so I can’t easily replace it. This is a gorgeous duo-chrome shade with a really lovely buttery texture that reminds me a lot of the Makeup Geek duo-chrome formula I picked up at the beginning of May.It’s a pretty yellow/orange/pink,  not something I’d normally think “yes I need that” to, but there was something about this I just couldn’t resist! My swatch of this at the bottom doesn’t do it justice – the sun was setting and it wasn’t looking quite right!


H&M

h-m-flamingo-top

We perused the H&M clothing section for a long while – but alas most things I liked were way to short for my curvy 5ft 11 frame, but I did walk out with a t-shirt with sequinned flamingos on, I already had a black pineapple one from H&M I picked up a few weeks ago which I love so I knew I’d love this too!

h-m-kiwi-watermelon-mask

Next was the first time I’d come across H&M Beauty in person and to be honest, there wasn’t that much I was tempted by, the busy oxford street store seemed like it had been the victim of a lot of grubby fingers and maybe that had something to do with it. I did pick up a face mask (cause we all know I don’t have enough of those 😉 ) in Kiwi and Watermelon a self warming mask suitable for combination skin. I also picked up one blush, which looks in the same vein as NARS’ Orgasm, which I was planning on picking up after I finished my similar sleek one (which is now almost all gone), but actually really liked the buttery feel of this one called ‘Golden Peach’, as well as the pretty hexagonal packaging – not to mention it’s a whole load cheaper too.

h-m-golden-peach-blush


Kiehl’s

kiehls-tumeric-cranberry-masque

The penultimate stop for me was at Kiehl’s – I got back to King’s Cross 20 minutes before the train was due to depart, and no known platform – which dangerously meant I had a bit to time to kill before I knew which platform I needed to go to. I ended up with the Tumeric and Cranberry Seed Mask – one of the one’s I’ve been eager to try properly since being introduced to it at the Kiehl’s Nottingham Bloggers event in March when they launched.

kiehls-smoothing-oil-infused-shampoo

Somehow the sales assistant convinced me to try out their newest shampoo in the form of a small, and albeit pricey sample size (£8.50) – ‘Superbly Smoothing’ with Argan Oil. I actually loved the Olive Fruit Oil Shampoo I was given to try at the event and finished that up about a month ago, so finger’s crossed this is just as good. I was also given a few extra samples, as always to try and take home.

kiehls-samples


WH Smith

go-set-a-watchman-book-haul

On the last stop of my journey before jumping on the train I was only intending on getting a bottle of water, but I spotted Harper Lee’s Go Set A Watchman – a book I’ve been dying to read and waiting for the paperback version to come out on as it was so expensive on Kindle and hardback. I also intended to read this on the way home on the train, however one of my friends was drunk and being quite entertaining on What’s App – so I didn’t make it past the first page!


Left: H&M Blush Right: Topshop Eyeshadow
Left: H&M Blush
Right: Topshop Eyeshadow

What do you think of  my purchases? And what have you treated yourself to lately?

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Helpless Whilst Drying

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57 Comments

  1. June 23, 2016 / 8:14 am

    That’s a really nice haul! ๐Ÿ‘Œ I love the socks you got from Topshop. They are just so cute ๐Ÿ˜ Have you tested out the blush yet? How is its staying power? I like the tone and I think it should suit me too.

    • June 23, 2016 / 8:41 am

      No be only tried it on my hand when I swatched it London and it did stay in my hand all day! I’ll get back you with how it lasts on the face – haven’t had time for a drop of makeup all week, fingers crossed I can get time to try it out at the weekend!

  2. June 23, 2016 / 9:31 am

    Great post and picks. The face mask and topshop eyeshadow look awesome!

    • June 23, 2016 / 12:31 pm

      I know ๐Ÿ™ guess it will have to be one I’ll keep in my drawer otherwise it’ll probably get messy! Everyone’s loving the flamingo, had lots of questions where it came from when I wore it on Sunday! x

  3. June 23, 2016 / 12:29 pm

    I love the new H&M beauty packaging, but i have yet to try their products! Also, what’s the book about? ๐Ÿ™‚ I love books so I love reading new genres. It seems interesting!

    • June 23, 2016 / 12:33 pm

      I didn’t realise the book was a sequel to Kill a Mockingbird – but set 20 years in the future (I think!). TKAMB is about racial inequality in the Southern states of the USA – it’s been years since I read it so can’t remember fully – but I do remember it being fantastic. Going to have to re-read it before I start this one I think though!

      • June 23, 2016 / 12:37 pm

        That’s news to me! I never knew there would be a sequel to Kill a Mockingbird. I most definitely have to check it out then. It seems really interesting and different, thank you for letting me know ๐Ÿ™‚

        • June 23, 2016 / 12:40 pm

          Just launched in the past year – having just done a bit of reading (thank wikipedia!) whilst it was promoted as a sequel, it emerged after it’s actually a first draft of to kill a mockingbird, whilst being set in the future!

          • June 23, 2016 / 12:44 pm

            I feel so weird knowing all this now! It’s like i dont even use the internet anymore haha. This is actually really good news, I can’t wait to get my hands on this book ๐Ÿ™‚

  4. June 23, 2016 / 1:18 pm

    That eyeshadow is AMAZING, must be getting to Topshop to purchase!
    I’d love to see what it looks like on your eyes xx

  5. June 23, 2016 / 1:34 pm

    Great picks! That Kiehls mask sounds so good, do let us know how you get on with it!

  6. June 23, 2016 / 4:29 pm

    I love everythimg you got! That Topshop eyeshadow looks gorge and I love cute socks x

  7. June 23, 2016 / 5:38 pm

    How far is London for you to trek to? Just out of curiosity. In my mind, I always think everyone in the UK lives 15 mins from London (which I know is NOT true! ๐Ÿ˜› )
    What style of wedding shoes are you looking for? I’m not much into wedding stuff in general but I do like the fashion / makeup stuff! ๐Ÿ˜€
    I have a wee obsession with the milky opal crystals – anytime I see a pendant or a ring with that stone, I NEED it – love the hair clip you got (also funny you call it hair grips hehe)
    That TopShop eye shadow is STUNNING – I’m like moth to flame to shades like that too. But ugh, the shop girl dropping it is rather annoying though!
    Oh I’d not heard that COLAB came out with a new type – good to know and curious about your thoughts on that formulation!
    Also curious about that Kiehlโ€™s Tumeric and Cranberry Seed Mask – I smelled them at the counter and seems interesting.
    Great haul!

    • June 23, 2016 / 5:46 pm

      I love opals they’re probably my favourite stone to look at they’re so magical! Hair grips are hair grips – what would you call them ๐Ÿ˜‚
      Kicking myself as I didn’t check the eyeshadow now – I’d probably order another but its not online, I’m going back in two weeks so maybe I’ll pickup another as I wish I’d got another pack of the grips too!
      I live about half an hour away from a city which has a quick train of 45 minutes into kings cross, so I can have left my house and be in central London in under an hour and a half – not too bad! When I was at uni it would have taken me about 6 hours on the train, so definitely not 15 minutes from everywhere lol!

  8. June 23, 2016 / 6:16 pm

    Love the hair clips, it’ll add some bling to any hairdo you choose!
    Wooow, that Topshop eye shadow is gorgeous! So sad it separated from the bottom, but at least it’s still useable!
    The blush you chose is also a really pretty shade – H&M Beauty has such a big selection, which makes it so much harder to choose from!

  9. June 23, 2016 / 9:52 pm

    Those hair clips are sooooo stunning!!!! (love)

  10. June 23, 2016 / 10:17 pm

    Those topshop socks are adorable! Love your blog!
    Amberkn

  11. thatswhatsupblogger
    June 24, 2016 / 1:28 am

    I love that H&M top. I’m tall, too- 5’10”- so I have trouble in there too at times, but I love their tees! I haven’t seen that one. I am going to search for it.

  12. June 25, 2016 / 6:01 pm

    That shadow would be great as a highlighter for dark skin!

  13. Kathyj
    June 25, 2016 / 10:05 pm

    So many lovely purchases!! I wish we could get H&M here in NZ as they seem to have such cool stuff like the face mask
    Kathy x

  14. June 26, 2016 / 3:34 pm

    You sure had lots of fun shopping! This is a great haul, love the frilly socks, they’re so cute!!

  15. Serena
    June 26, 2016 / 8:09 pm

    Lovely haul ๐Ÿ™‚ x

  16. July 5, 2016 / 11:39 am

    great haul! looks like you both had a great time! ๐Ÿ™‚

  17. MyStyleInsideOut
    July 7, 2016 / 2:56 am

    OMG!! The Topshop eyeshadow!! I want… I want.. so pretty….. and I am also guilty with socks, I love those kinds it just reminds me of my younger years?? haha

  18. July 7, 2016 / 8:21 pm

    I really would love to hear what you think about that dry shampoo. I completely agree that it’s really difficult to find a dry shampoo that’s of any benefit. Sometimes if I come home from work late, I don’t have time to dry my hair so I just need a quick spritz of dry shampoo to get me through the evening, but a lot of brands leave my hair looking worse than it did before!
    Ellie
    xxx

    • Still yet to try it! Been trying to finish off another before I start but I might give it a go next week – look out it won’t be far behind! Aussies my fave so far, have you tried that? X

  19. Anne
    July 8, 2016 / 8:58 am

    Great haul! Love all of the cute accessoires you picked up (those socks!). The new Colab dry shampoo sounds intriguing, so can’t wait to read your review on that one.
    xo Anne

  20. deinag
    July 9, 2016 / 5:27 pm

    This blog post is bae, the pictures are lovely! The details about the products are helpful! Amazing! Xx

  21. July 14, 2016 / 11:23 am

    That H&M blush is so gorgeous! I’ll have to look it up.

    Jemima x
    anotherrantingreader.blogspot.co.uk

  22. July 14, 2016 / 11:25 am

    That H&M blush is so gorgeous!! I’ll have to look it up.

    Jemima x
    anotherrantingreader.blogspot.co.uk

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