Mybeautywaxstash

Tag: beautyonabudget

  • New So…? Body Mists in Superdrug

    Body mists are a great way for people to fragrance themselves. Available everywhere, lots of brands and scents to choose from and can be very affordable to purchase. These are the reasons I like to use and buy them, not only for myself but for my teenage daughter too. My latest purchase was a selection of So…? body mists, in new fragrances, from the store Superdrug. So what did I buy and why?

    New So…? Body Mists in Superdrug
    Fragrances

    I bought 4 body mists in total. Chocolate Milkshake, Vanilla Milkshake, Caramel Cookies and Boba Licious.

    Vanilla Milkshake Body Mist
    Why these?

    Firstly, these are new fragrances. But more importantly these are the types of fragrances I like. Sweet smelling, almost bakery or confectionery like, are the types of scents I’ve always enjoyed. With these being on a special price promotion it made these new releases just that little bit more affordable so I could try them out. It also helps that my daughter has a similar taste in scents and fragrances to me, so win win.

    Chocolate Milkshake Body Mist
    How do they smell?

    Chocolate Milkshake smells like a mix of milk chocolate and florals. Vanilla Milkshake I would say has the same sort of scent as the chocolate version but, of course, more vanilla based. Caramel Cookies reminds me of the scent of caramelised biscuits, LITERALLY! And Boba Licious is quite a fruity fragrance. Very summery, energising and effervescent.

    Caramel Cookies Body Mist

    I can honestly say I would be happy to wear any of these. These are my types of fragrances scent wise and each one smells so good, especially Caramel Cookies. I can also see the potential of layering as I think they would work well combined.

    Boba-Licious Body Mist
    Thoughts?

    These 4 new So…? body mists from Superdrug is what I expect from the brand. Fun, fragrant and modern. Not taking itself too seriously and really delivering fragrances that people will love if they like this type of fragrance family. I was going to give my daughter one or two of these but I’m tempted to keep them all, that’s how much I like them! So on first impressions and sniff test, these get the thumbs up. Cost? £3.99 for 100ml, but at time of purchase they were on promotion for £2.35 (using Superdrug’s loyalty card). Available in store and online.

  • A 50p Disney Cream Face Mask from Primark

    Its January. We’ve spent too much over Christmas and the doom and gloom of the cost of living situation is a constant reminder to watch the pennies. We all love a good saving and bargain but at this time probably more so, right? Although skincare and general pampering isn’t classified as essential, it’s still something many of us want to purchase product wise. Well, my eagle eyes spotted Disney’s Minnie Mouse Cream Face Mask in Primark, down from £1.50 to…..50p!

    Disney’s Minnie Mouse Cream Face Mask
    Why did I buy this?

    Honestly? It looked cute! THAT’S what caught my eye, the packaging. Then the reduced sticker. And my little mind thought how good these would be as little gift ideas so I bought three! I decided to give one a go myself because it sounded like it would be quite nice on the skin and non-drying.

    What is this?

    This is a skincare face mask designed to provide hydration and moisture to the skin. Skin should be left feeling soft, smooth, hydrated and appearance wise look less dull and tired.

    Packaging

    This mask comes in a small sachet. A large drawing of the character Minnie Mouse is on the front and the whole thing is neutral and nude in colouring. Super cute without coming across childish.

    Texture

    I don’t think I’ve ever seen a mask like this! When I ripped open the sachet the first thing that I noticed was the colour. It was very pale purple and very runny, which made me think of raspberry yoghurt minus bits in it. Smooth and glossy in look. I expected something thicker but this resembled a very loose and thin body lotion.

    Fragrance

    On the sachet it says it’s lychee fragranced. No idea what that fruit smells like but this to me was a lightly floral/raspberry scent. It was nothing too harsh, in fact very soft.

    How to Use

    Apply a thin layer to the face, leave on for 5 to 10 minutes and rinse off.

    In Use

    I used this when my face was thoroughly clean and dry. I didn’t use the whole sachet, probably less than half. The packaging did say apply a thin layer and that’s what I did. I used enough so there was a visible layer on my face, which over the ten minutes of wear slowly disappeared.

    The fragrance didn’t bother me. It was so soft and quite pleasant and I didn’t dislike it at all. Quite a pretty scent and if I had more time to chill while using this I think the scent would have helped my mood.

    Rinsing off was easy and I actually enjoyed this part! Even thought the skincare mask looked as if it had sunk into my skin, the addition of water almost reactivated it. It became cream like again and felt like a cream cleanser.

    Skin Afterwards

    Although I don’t think my skin looked less dull, what it did do is look a little fresher. Slightly smoother in appearance as if I had just given my face a good wash to wake it up! Not only did it look a little smoother it felt it too. My face didn’t look or feel dry, but it did feel very clean. What I would have liked though is the feeling of more hydration as my skin needed to feel more moisturised.

    Recommended?

    Skincare can be as cheap or as expensive as you are willing to pay or what you can afford. With skincare masks they won’t provide a face lift or perform magic. But if you enjoy using them, it leaves your skin feeling and looking slightly better (even if temporary) then why not? Everyone’s skin is different but I had no issues with this and being older, I probably have more concerns and needs compared to someone younger. So if you can grab these for 50p it’s a bargain! Super pretty packaging, decent skincare face mask and suitable for different ages and skin types. Not perfect, but it will do for 50p!

  • A Fragrance for Under £5.00! Lidl’s Lovely Eau de Parfum

    If you’ve read any of my previous blog posts, you will know I don’t turn my nose up at products that are labelled as ‘cheap’. In fact, I LOVE affordable products! How much you spend isn’t always a reflection on quality of a product. There are so many low to mid-priced ranges out there that are fantastic in quality, you would be crazy not to try things out and hopefully save yourself some money. So, guess what I picked up while grabbing a frozen pizza and a tub of ice-cream recently? A bottle of Lovely Eau de Parfum from the supermarket Lidl. This retails at £4.45 for 75ml.

    Lidl’s Lovely Eau de Parfum
    Why did I buy this?

    I browsed the personal care section in Lidl and saw a selection of fragrances. Testers on the shelf, I spritzed and sniffed, and I realised I liked the scent of all the ones I showered myself with. I normally purchase a body mist because they are affordable. But Lidl’s Lovely Eau de Parfum is not that much different in price to body mists available, so I thought it was worth a purchase.

    Packaging

    75ml of fragrance comes in a clear, glass bottle. It’s wider at the bottom and comes in closer at the top so the shape is very appealing. The bottle itself comes boxed. Off white in colour with gold and black writing on it.

    I don’t expect much for less than £5.00 but the packaging is very plain and basic. It’s not the most interesting packaging I have ever seen but it’s not worst. What I didn’t like was how the box wasn’t in plastic. The plastic finishes it off and gives it a more professional look whether it’s for a gift or for yourself. And dare I say you know if it’s wrapped in plastic no one has opened and used it!

    Fragrance, How Does It Smell?

    This gives me a Spring/Summer vibe. It’s floral based and has a powdery element to it. It’s quite clean and fresh but not heavy. I wouldn’t say this a modern fragrance but it’s not old fashioned either. What I would call it is a classic feminine floral fragrance which smells really good.

    Strength & Longevity

    Strength is a medium. I can be quite heavy handed with fragrances as I apply them mainly in the morning before work and want it to last. The strength doesn’t knock me out but it envelopes and comforts me. And at the end of a 4 hour shift I can still smell this although it’s not as strong as when first applied.

    Longevity isn’t bad at all! It lasts throughout the morning but to give a boost to strength a reapplication is needed around mid-day.

    Is this a Dupe?

    I’ve read that Lidl’s fragrances are based on well-known designer fragrances. Which one this is inspired I can’t be 100% sure because I’m reading conflicting information about it. One name that pops up is Dior’s J’Adore which I cannot confirm or deny as I don’t own it and haven’t smelt it.

    Recommended?

    I would, for a few reasons. The fragrance is beautiful. It has a decent strength and longevity to it. Good size and of course, the price means it’s affordable. You won’t feel the need to hold back using this or keep it for special occasions. Ideal to pop into your bag for work, college, or leave it on your desk. I think how this smells would appeal to a wide range of people regardless of age. Great gift idea too but I personally wouldn’t give it on its own. It doesn’t look special enough. What I would do it maybe add a nice bath bomb and lotion to give it a bit more of a wow factor.

    This gets the thumbs up from me. If you’ve skipped the fragrances in your local Lidl store, it might be worthwhile giving this a try as I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

  • A Budget Best Buy? Primark’s PS Strawberry Bubble Bar

    I am a sucker for a pretty bath product! Something that looks good will have me reaching for my my wallet quicker than a chocolate bar entering my mouth. It can’t be helped. I’ve mentioned before one of my favourite things to throw in the bath is a bubble bar. So it’s no wonder my last trip to Primark resulted in me buying their Lemon Bubble Bar AND their Strawberry Bubble Bar. Both at the time cost £2.00.

    Primark’s PS Strawberry Bubble Bar
    Why did I buy this?

    Just look at the pics on this post! Firstly, I love bubble bars because hey tend to be more moisturising, more luxurious and for me more enjoyable to use in the bath compared to a bath bomb. This one got picked up because although it’s not very intricate in look, and void of glitter or detail, it still is very cute and inviting. And THOSE are the reasons I grabbed it!

    What does it look like?

    Firstly, can I just say this is a sizeable bubble bar. It’s not small! 11cm in length and at it’s widest point just over 6 cm. Depth is over 2 cm so this is a chunk of a bar and weighs 150g! And what does this look like? Lips! This bubble bar is shaped like lips in a pretty shade of pink. There’s no other detail to it, it’s all in the shape. Not chalky in look and feel as a bath bomb would be. Solid, but this could easily have been made out of some kid’s dough, plasticine type crafting material etc.

    Fragrance

    This had a more cherry scent to it rather than strawberry. It was nice, fruity, not too sweet but strawberry wasn’t what sprang to mind the first time I gave this a quick sniff once I took it out of the plastic.

    How to use

    Break up under warm running water and enjoy.

    In the bath

    I crumbled half of this bubble bar into the bath. The bubble bar itself looks so solid and it is, but when crumbled has a softer texture to it. It created bubbles straight away while it was thrown under the warm running water. I was actually surprised how many bubbles were created and how soft, fluffy and airy they were! Underneath the surface the bath was a shade of soft pink. Overall a very inviting bath to look at.

    I really wish the fragrance was stronger! It had a little more strength to it unused than it did in the water which I wished was the other way round. It was exceptionally soft and needed more presence for me to really enjoy it. That’s my personal preference. Some people like soft scents, others want their head’s blown off. I’m probably somewhere in the middle.

    The bubbles stayed in tact for roughly ten minutes and it didn’t take them long to disappear, leaving the soft pink bath water behind. I sat there, read as usual, and tried to chill out. It was pleasant enough, no issues with my skin in or out. Was it the best bath I’ve ever had? No. But it wasn’t awful. I got out of the bath thinking this could have been really REALLY good. But in all honesty you would probably be paying more than £2.00 for that type of experience, surely?

    Now my answer depends on what it is you want and how much you want to pay. For how much this cost this is absolutely fine. You want something that looks nice, possibly to be in a gift hamper or something to use in the bath like you would a normal bubble bath then this will do. This also proves if you are on a budget, you can have an affordable bath treat. But if you want something special, to the point your eyes explode with sheer delight and you feel like a Princess in the bath, this won’t be for you.

    Would I buy this again? I’ve tried this one and the Lemon version and I’m happy with trying them and I don’t need to repurchase because I know what experience I will have. I’ve given them a go, pleasant enough, but I want and need something more special in my bath.