The Haul

Prepare yourself guys, this is a big'un. When I asked you guys in a survey a few weeks back what you would like to see more of on Bed In The Kitchen, there was resounding agreement that you wanted to see more haul posts. It's like you guys think I go shopping a lot or something?

Now this is a big ol' collective haul of all the bits I've bought since Christmas. I was lucky enough to get a lot of vouchers for Christmas, particularly from my lovely friends who didn't know what makeup I already have! Therefore, most of these products are technically gifts, but you know, I still got to choose them! 

Shall we jump in? We have a lot to get through...

I'm going to do this in sections to make it a little easier. First up, the sales purchases. A quick peruse of the Space NK online sale proved fruitful. I picked up the Space NK Travel Brush Set, a steal at £10 instead of £40. I love Space NK brushes and this little roll is perfect for travelling, or chucking in your handbag for long day touch ups. I also picked up a Rococo nail polish, I've wanted to try one for ages and they were £3 in the sale. The shade I went for is Dreamy in Versailles, a gorgeous metallic lilac. Also £3, I couldn't resist grabbing the Small Space NK Makeup Bag, which was the perfect size to hold my makeup for a weekend back home at the end of January, but is also great for keeping things together inside my handbags. I didn't look at any other online sales, until I heard whisper of bargain Orly Polishes selling at £3.99 a pop on Fragrance Direct. I ended up ordering the shades Rage which I've been lusting over for the longest time, and also Cotton Candy a beautiful bubblegum pink shade.

I popped into Boots to pick up the Lee Stafford Original Dry Shampoo, when I came across the Lee Stafford Big Fat Hair Kit, in the sale down from £18 to £4. I was going to buy the dry shampoo anyway, and the kit cost less, so I went for it. Inside were the Big Fat Root Boost Mousse Spray, Hold Tight Hairspray, & Original Dry Shampoo. The kit also contained a set of rollers, hair grips and bands. I can't see myself using the rollers since I already have a set I love, but for £4, you can't complain!

Armed with a voucher and a long lunchbreak, I spent a long time picking out what to get in House of Fraser. I bought the Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Streak first, after seeing a very convincing review on Jenny's Blog. I mentioned this in my January Favourites, I just love it, it's a gorgeous coral colour, and the formula is impeccable. I then ended up at the NARS counter, swatching all the blushes until I left with NARS Gilda, a gorgeous matte peachy orange shade, unlike any other blush I own. It's a blush that really adds dimension to the face, whilst warming it up, which means you can get away with forgoing the bronzer (handy when you're in a rush). 

I ended the Christmas season with two Debenhams vouchers (lucky lady) so a little spree was inevitable. It's no secret that I'm borderline obsessed with Bobbi Brown at the moment, in particular the Sheer Lip Colours. I got two of said lipsticks (I know, I know, I'm terrible), Rosy a bright pink with coral undertones, and Pink Flush, a sheer baby pink. They both look super bright in the bullet but apply really sheer and pretty. I also picked up a blush from Bobbi Brown, I've been dying to try one for the longest time, and settled on Apricot, a gorgeous bright pink (no idea why it's called Apricot). The staying power of this is incredible, it stays looking flawless all day. The last thing I picked up was the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation, a repurchase I have been wanting to make for ages, but always put off because of the price. 

After buying a lot of Christmas presents in Boots (I did a lot of my parents Christmas shopping for them too) I had a lot of points I was eager to spend. I usually spend Boots Points on high-end products I want to try, but this time I had a list of budget beauty items I wanted to try. I ended up picking up the Seventeen Phwoarr Paint, a fairly high coverage creamy concealer that everyone has been raving about recently, the Revlon Photoready Skinlights Face Illuminator, and two of the new Revlon Colourburst Matte Balms in Elusive and Standout. And they were all free! 

 I also got a Topshop Voucher for Christmas, and after a few weeks of looking for something that stood out to me from the clothing section, I gave up and picked up a few makeup bits. I've not tried much Topshop makeup before, but I am really pleased with what I picked up. I got the Beatnik Lipstick, a creamy, dusky rose, my lips but better colour, which smells utterly delicious. I hadn't seen the Eye Gleams before, and given my current obsession with the MAC Paint Pots, I decided to try one. I picked the colour Bronzed, a beautiful golden bronze shadow with shimmer. A perfect one wash colour. Lastly, I thought I'd try the White Lies Finishing Powder, which I like but it smells like old ladies perfume.

The last purchase was a naughty one. After my Space NK sales order I got an email to say I had £5 worth of N.Dulge points to redeem. I didn't think much of it until on a particularly weak day (I'd just found out my order of the NARSissist Eyeshadow Palette had been cancelled) I decided to treat myself to the candle I've had my eye on for the last couple of months, Diptyque Pomander. It's a gorgeous orange, clove and cinnamon scent, kind of festive but I love it. (I have now managed to get ahold of that palette, but there's no way I'm taking this back, it smells so good!)

If you want to see full reviews of any of these products let me know, I didn't want to go into too much detail in this post or we'd have been here all week! I'm now embarking on a spending ban until my birthday, wish me luck!

Have you bought anything nice this month?