Cheap Beauty/Make Up Storage - Poundland

Beauty storage for a quid? 

Well that's exactly what I found tucked away on a shelf in Poundland last week.

I picked up this transparent acrylic storage topper alongside the lipstick/polish holder on the left for just £1.00 each.

They conform well to the ascetic of my more costly Muji make-up storage but eradicate the need to rummage through the draws when looking for specific products when I need to be out the door in 10 minutes.

With these units I'm able to display my every-day staples accessibly in an uncluttered, better organised way.

The larger topper of the two (which could also double up as a handy desk caddy) currently houses my everyday MAC Face & Body foundation, my current favourite shades of lipliners and my daily essentials: Bioderma lip balm & La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo.

Lippy wise my current MAC, Topshop & Illamasqua favourites are handily housed within easy reach in the generously sized 12 pocket caddy.

Not bad for a quid each huh?

How do you store your everyday go-to products? 

Game of Thrones Exhibition #GOTExhibit - London o2 Arena

Jamie and I was summoned by the 7 Kingdoms (...well...Sky Atlantic actually) to visit the Game of Thrones exhibition at it's London stop off before it departs to the other cities on it's European tour.

As huge fans of the show we travelled a a few stops to its current SouthEasterious home at the o2 Arena, London.

Housed in the backstage area, the exhibition featured costumes and props used by the cast on the show. With just a rope cordon separating visitors from Ayra's "Stick 'em with the pointy end" needle sword and her costume from the episode of the same name. 

It was great to be able to get so up close and personal with TV's biggest medieval fantasy epic. 

Having watched the series from the start I'd never really appreciated how much intricate detailing went into the costumes. 

House emblems on miniscule buttons and metalwork which probably never stay in shot long enough for an audience to fully appreciate them on screen. 

All the costumes are breathtakingly beautiful, even the heavy battlefield armour. As for the props? Those swords were very real indeed!

Something I always find interesting at these types of exhibitions is the fact you get a sense of the characters stature in real life, Jon Snow's costume for example depicts him to be much shorter than I had always imaged, and Tyrion much taller...

And according to his crown, King Joffery's head was tiny!

Included in the exhibition was three interactive features. 

To access these involved sharing the user code you are issued on declaring your allegiance to a Game of Thrones house at the beginning. 

We went with Stark, although I heard a lot of young lads opting for Targaryen ...I wonder why!? 

All the interactive section was entirely free and your personal code enabled you to access your footage using the exhibits websites. A great touch I thought. 

The first of the experiences enabled you to feel the wrath of one of Daenery's Dragons. 

You are videoed being engulfed in dragon fire, which was a lot of fun if slightly embarrassing with the queue of people waiting their turn watching you as you act out being scared & then burning to death! 

...Especially if all that embarrassment is for nothing when you later realise you stood completely in the wrong position!

Another was the ability to transform into a White Walker, where the White Walker's features are superimposed onto a picture you pose for, giving it your best scowl. 

We gave this a miss as the queue was really long and to be fair I get the same effect by forgetting to moisturise for a few days.

Finally, the big one was "Ascending The Wall" 

A completely immersive solo 4D experience. You step alone inside a cage and put on the Oculus Rift headset, where you are instantly transported to a creaky pulley lift that ascends you up the icy wall of the Northern boarder of the seven kingdoms, realistically swaying as the wind whizzes by until you reach the dizzying heights at the very top. 

Witnessing from the sidelines grown men tumbling all over the place, it really is that much of an immersive experience. 

The queue for this was over an hour & unfortunately I had to sit this out as I have Meniere's Disease but according to Jamie it was well worth the wait. 

We also got to take over the Iron Throne. I think I'd quite like one of these in my living room! 

Overall a great exhibition and highly recommend catching it if you can. 

Season 5 of Game of Thrones starts 12th April 2015 on Sky Atlantic

"If you think this has a happy ending, then you haven't been paying attention"

Down To A Tee - Charity Fashion Event

Love fashion & fun nights out in London? 

Then clear your diary on Wednesday 11th March...

Down To A Tee is a one-off fashion event hosted by 2nd year students in aid of Changing Faces, a charitable organisation that supports and represents people who have conditions or injuries which effect their appearance.

For just £10 your ticket buys you access to the fashion show alongside a DJ set, live music and close up magical entertainment. 

The price of the ticket also includes the cost of one drink.

You can purchase tickets here.

For more information please check out Down To A Tee's Facebook event page.

Down To A Tee

11th March 2015 from 6pm

The Rolling Stock, 

48 Kingsland Road 

London 

E2 8AA

Cheap Dupe - Kylie Jenner Nude Lip / MAC Soar

Been into MAC recently? Asked for the Soar lip pencil?

Well if you haven't let me tell you every branch and concessions' response: 

"Sorry. Out of stock."

I suspect it may have something to do with the fact that a certain Miss Kylie Jenner recently confirmed this bit of kit is her nude pout pencil of choice.

In a hunt for an alternative "your lips but better" liner I stumbled across a cheap-o stand at the back of Beauty Base in Westfield, Stratford City.  

LA Girl USA An American brand similar to our MUA, stocks an assortment of products which are - shall we say - "inspired" by higher end products.

I wasn't expecting much from the retractable Endless Auto Lipliner that I found in the shade Natural (GP333) but at just £1.50 I popped it into my basket anyway.

That £1.50 turned out to be the best beauty buy of the year! Yes, yes, I know it's only February...but let me explain!

Natural is a mid-tone pinkish brown (just like Soar) which boasts a creamy formulation that glides on effortlessly. It also lines precisely and filling in your lips is an absolute doddle even for novice lip liners like myself.

In contrast to MAC's offering, the retractable pen style also eradicates the need for messy sharpeners but still boasts the same impressive staying power of it's £12.50 counterpart. 

On hastily returning to Beauty Base to buy a back up (or ten), I was gutted to find the display that a housed these pencils a week earlier completely empty. 

Fortunately after some hunting online I found the LA Girl website and this eBay seller both whom ship internationally and placed an order.

So there you go. A £1.50 dupe from a little know brand which actually exceeds all expectation as a great, cheaper alternative for make-up lovers most sought after lip liner. 

Although whenever Miss Jenner's plump pout is exclusively down to just a lip pencil...

...well - I'll leave that one for you to decide! :)