Even when I was really busy with University last month I still found the time to do a little bit of shopping and I've acquired quite a few random beauty bits I'm really excited to talk about! Today's haul is one full of firsts as I finally bought a toner and an eyebrow gel and I honestly don't know how I've survived all this time without these two steps in my beauty routine! I was really intrigued by Maybelline's Brow Drama which could be an amazing dupe for Benefit's Gimmie Brow, but as my eyebrows are thick and pigmented enough on their own I opted for the translucent shade so I can't really make a full comparison. Nevertheless, I can't believe the difference a brow gel can make! Even when I'm wearing hardly any make-up I always reach for Brow Drama as it tames my unruly brows perfectly and thankfully it isn't clumpy and it doesn't make my eyebrows feel hard either. And at £4.99 it's such a steal!
I've never really been interested in toner but after finding a £20 gift card for ESPA in a magazine a few months ago I decided to try the Balancing Herbal Spafresh Spritzer. I'll admit when I'm being lazy I end up missing this step out in the morning but on the days I do use a this toner my skin feels refreshed, looks more healthy and the smell really wakes you up! The toner is suited for all skin types but it's specifically aimed for oily/combination skin and I definitely notice a reduction in oil throughout the day when I use this. The toner contains a mixture of peppermint (to refine pores), witch hazel and elderflower (which combat outbreaks and blemishes). I personally love the smell and I'm currently on the look out for a small bottle so I can keep this in my bag and use it as a hydrating mist throughout the day as I've heard it works wonderfully when applied over makeup!
After hearing so much about the amazing Tangle Teezer brushes and accepting the fact that my current brush was destroying my hair and snapping it all the time I picked up the Original Tangle Teezer in Lilac to replace my old brush. I wasn't overwhelmed when I first used this brush but after a while I realised that my hair was significantly smoother (I used to have so many knots in my hair!) I'm still not certain if I understand the hype but I'm glad I decided to pick a Tangle Teezer up!
My next purchase is a repurchase, just in a different scent! I always have to have a Burt's Bees lip balm in my bag and after my beloved Coconut and Pear balm ran out I decided to try something a little different and picked up the Blueberry and Dark Chocolate version. The balm itself works just as wonderfully as all the other Burt's Bees balms I've tried (I really recommend them!) and it definitely hydrates my lips but I'm not a fan of the scent at all. I thought the combination would be lovely but it's just a bit odd and so overpowering.
Every season I always purchase one of the VS limited edition body sprays and I absolutely loved the one I picked up last year (which is featured in my July Favorites!) This year they released 4 limited edition scents - Escape, Paradise, Beach and Surfside - and I actually picked up the mini versions of the other scents in the VS Semi Annual sale last week! Surfside, however, was definitely my favourite. It's a refreshing mix of passion fruit and driftwood and it reminds me of the drinking cocktails on the beach! I can't stop reaching for this during the day time and it's now my go-to summer scent!
What have you been buying recently?
Let me know if you've tried any of the above products in the comments!
