Why I Buy High...

No, I'm not talking about going shopping whilst 'blazed' (sorry, couldn't resist this title)... Today, I'm writing about why I choose to buy the majority of my products from the higher end of the price spectrum. It's a little bit of a controversial topic, I feel, and not something that everyone approves of. If I had a By Terry lipstick for every time I've gone on and on to my poor long-suffering friends and family about the improved quality and whatnot, I'd have a full set of MUJI drawers stacked up high full of 'em.

For me, makeup is a hobby. It's what I choose to indulge in, and if I had a way of showing how I spent my money, I can guarantee that the vast majority of it would go on cosmetics. I'm not especially fussy about what I buy, I have no preference between buying bases, cheek products, eyeshadows, skincare or lipsticks, but I think that I choose my products wisely and have stopped making superfluous purchases... Okay, so there's always room for another lipstick.

As an extension of this, I am perfectly happy to buy from the aisles of Boots and Superdrug - the UK 'drugstores' - as I am from SpaceNK or Cult Beauty and the likes. But. Look in my makeup collection and the vast majority comes from such high end retailers. Yes, this means that the products I buy from these shops tend to be a lot more expensive for the same amount of product I would be able to buy from Revlon or Maybelline, say. And yes, sometimes they turn out to be utter duds. I am the first person to say that buying high end by no means guarantees high quality. But. From my experience, 9/10 times, it actually does...

I'm a big believer in the idea that you get what you pay for. As far as I can see, it's a rule that works for food, for furniture, for clothes and for makeup. Yes, 'drugstore' formulations are improving all the time and the technologies are fast catching up, and yes, you can buy fantastic eye products from Rimmel and killer lip products from Revlon... But compared to the likes of Urban Decay, NARS and YSL Beauty? I see no comparison.

I'm well aware of the fact that when you buy from a high end brand, you buy into the branding as much as anything else, especially in the cases of fashion houses that have expanded into the cosmetics industry IMO, but the quality of the products does tend to match my expectations. There are some amazing bases in my makeup collection that I found in Boots, the Garnier Oil Free BB Cream for Oily/Combination Skin springs instantly to mind, but on the flip side of that, my all time favourites are high end (NARS' tinted moisturiser, the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser Oil Free... I could go on). And don't even get me started on low end skincare...

The fact that I can still remember the feeling when I got my first ever high end product - a travel sized bottle of Moroccanoil Light Treatment, that I still have FYI - says a lot about buying high end, for me at least. It's an experience as much as anything else. I realise that I may well have just come across as the biggest makeup snob evaaa in writing this post, but I feel that it's actually quite an interesting topic. Ultimately, I buy high end because I feel that the price is more often than not reflected in the quality, or the unique-ness of the product and honestly? I'd take a high end five-product-face over a full on drugstore lineup any day and everyday.

The 'Until We Meet Again' Line-Up

Products. 90% of the time, I use them, I chuck them, I don't look back. Sometimes, however, something special happens when I slap one on my face (to use the technical term...), and it gets earmarked for a repurchase. Great for the complexion, horrendous for my bank balance. More often than not, such products tend to run out at the exact same time, leading to a rather lengthy payday wish list. Le cry. So, without further ado, here we are: the 'Until We Meet Again' line-up.

Indeed Labs Eysilix Instant Eye Rescue - This is hands down the best eye cream I have used to date. I'm not saying it's HG - puffy eyes were still a big issue around that time of the month - but it was a great product that helped alleviate my under-eye darkness. Apart from my acne and scarring, this is my biggest issue and finding something that actually helps is much easier said than done, in my experience.  I'm not sure I'd pay the full £24.99 for it again, but next time I see it on offer in the aisles of Boots, it's mine.

Lush Mask of Magnaminty - Yes, I'm talking about this mask again, but I'll keep this short and sweet. I've used it, I will repurchase it. Always.

Pixi Glow Tonic - The ultra-hyped toner that actually sort of works. I didn't use this religiously and didn't really see the effects I was hoping for, but this was a pretty decent chemical exfoliant and I definitely saw an improvement in overall skin clarity whilst using it. I won't rush out to buy another bottle, but next time I'm in London town, I'll be sure to pop by the Pixi store...

Moroccanoil Treatment - One of the absolute staples in my routine. I'm not kidding when I say that I don't think I could cope without it. This is great for if your hair is on the ever-so-slightly unruly side and although it will set you £30 down, the big 100ml bottles do last absolutely ages so it's money well spent.

Benefit Hoola Bronzing Powder - A cult classic, and in my opinion, understandably so. On my olive-y skin, this matt bronzer works well to both contour and add warmth to my face. I've got NARS Bronzing Powder in the shade Laguna to keep me going in the mean time, so whilst I won't rush out to repurchase it, it's definitely on the cards.

Laura Mercier Mineral Powder Mineral Powder SPF 15 in the shade Real Sand - For a long time, this was my go-to foundation for a relatively fuss-free base. It's sat unloved for a while, but actually, I've managed to work my way through it over the last couple of years. It's a very fool-proof product that I reach for when I want a touch more coverage/lasting power. At the moment, I'm not desperate as a friend has just given me the MAC Studio Fix Powder, which has a nice amount of coverage, but this will definitely be a repurchase at some point.

Laura Mercier Secret Camoflaugue Concealer in the shade SC4 - This has been my main concealer for a pretty long time now, and even though this was almost unusable on account of being too dark for me, it's safe to say goodbye to this one (even if it's not for long...)

So, in the meantime, I need help... Any budget eye cream or concealer recommendations out there?

Short Hair, Don't Care

Having had short hair in one form or another for the last few years, I consider myself to be something of an expert when it comes to hair products. I've gone from bobs to a pixie cut and everywhere in-between and these are the products that have got me through it...

First of all, the basics. For me, this means a hair oil and heat protectant. When it comes to oil, my pick would be Moroccanoil. It's been a staple products for me since 2011 and I've never looked back. My hair isn't unruly by any means as it's naturally quite fine, but it's so much sleeker when I use this. I'm also heavily reliant on heat to style my hair, as I can never be bothered to wait for it to dry naturally but never manage to blow dry it straight or curly, so a heat protectant is essential. I'm currently using L'Oréal Elnett Heat Styling Spray, but if I'm being honest, I don't really have a preference. This is great because it definitely plumps the hair up and adds volume without any fuss. From here on, it's time to get creative.

Next up, I'm talking volume. Much as I love the look of a sleek shoulder length 'do, it just doesn't do it for me. There ain't nothing wrong with a little bit of oomph. My go-to option comes in the form of Percy & Reed Finishing Polish. Strictly speaking, this is meant to be used on dry hair, but I slap some in when my hair still pretty wet as it thickens my hair up and gives it some texture and grip. A newer addition to my haircare stash that has become a new fave is the L'Oréal Elvive Fibrology Thickening Double Serum. Not so catchy name, but an incredibly effective product nonetheless. I've been using this in conjunction with the shampoo and conditioner from the Fibrology range and have found all of them to be great for adding volume and thickness. Big fan. When it comes to adding a bit of texture, I give you two options. On a budget, look for L'Oréal Studio Matt & Messy Shine-Free Salt Spray Tousled Look (what is it with L'Oréal and the crazy long names?!). This was my go-to product during the summer to create an après-beach look and adding some grip to my locks, plus it's a great 'dupe' for Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray. Win. If you're looking to spend a bit more, I'd recommend Bumble and Bumble Dryspun Finish Spray. This is great for a short-term quick fix if your hair is looking particularly flat, but the effects don't last that long. Blasted into the roots, however, this is fab for plumping things up a bit. Aaaand finally, hairspray. Again, I don't have much of a preference, but I do love L'Oréal Elnett Supreme Hold Hairspray purely because the smell reminds me of my childhood. Judge me not.