Happy January Bank Holiday. I hope you're well and woke up finally hangover free. I sure have :) Today's probably the first day of your New Years resolutions, make sure to tell me what they are! I personally have one and one only. I'd like to smile more in 2017. That's all. Last couple of years have been difficult and I am still learning to get on with everything that happened. What helps? Great friends, amazing makeup and sales. Of course the sales.
I have a little tradition with my Mom. We go out for food on Boxing Day and over the next few days we shop our arses off. This year I shopped with both my mom and my lovely friend Anna and today I'd love to show you what I treated myself to! It's a massive haul and I feel like I have to explain myself. I promised myself NOT TO SHOP until end of March so I had to, HAD TO make it slightly easier by shopping now instead. And who doesn't love a good sale?
BIRMINGHAM
Grand Central / TKMaxx
I love TKMaxx and this year especially they've been stocking so many amazing skincare and lifestyle bits, I had to walk around a bit. I got myself a few sheet masks because, well, I'm obsessed with them! They were all only £1.99 and an absolute steal at that price. Mizon Enjoy Vital-Up Time Firming Mask. This Korean brand is not easily available in UK so I was glad to be able to test it. It contains fresh pomegranate extract known for it's anti-ageing and firming properties. Missha Pure Source Green Tea Cell Sheet Mask contains the extract of green tea essence perfect for sensitive types, as it hydrates and soothes. Missha was easily available through Beauty Bay but sadly that's not the case anymore. I had to grab it, as I am super pleased with the CC Cream (POST). The masks are now available through Amazon. SNP Charcoal Mineral Black Ampoule Mask has great claims and it promises to hydrate, exfoliate and tighten pores. It's opaque black and I honestly can't wait to try it. Again this Korean brand is not easily available in UK, so thank you TKMaxx.
I also bought a Olivia Blake Fragranced Candle. It was only £5.00 and have a very delicate sweet scent. I love the packaging as it reminds me a lot of White Company candles. I hoped for a proper candle haul but there weren't many that grabbed my attention.
Total spent: £10.97
Grand Central / Kiehl's
We finally have a standalone Kiehl's store in Birmingham Grand Central. I had a voucher , so I thought what better time to use it than with 20% off at Kiehl's. I managed to grab the famous Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate at an amazing price of £29.60 (previously £37 for 30ml) and having it recommended from multiple sources (Thank you Leanne & Fokusowana), I just had to get it. I can't wait to start using it in the New Year.
I walked around other stores like Paperchase, Love Aroma & White Company but the sales weren't as attracting so I passed on this occasion.
Total Spent: £29.60
New Street / Primark
I walked in to Primark wanting to get a nice notebook and I finally managed to grab this Hello Gorgeous notebook. For a person obsessed with stripes and rose gold, this is the one I lusted after for a while now. I think it was around £2.00 so a total bargain. I also grabbed their No 9 Wild Orchid & Honey Diffuser, which smells incredible, supposed to last up to 4 weeks and costed only a pound!!!
Total spent: £3.00
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| Image of hm.com |
High Street / H&M
Not shown on the picture, but if you follow me on Snapchat (i.dorottka), you've seen me wear it non stop the last few days, is the gorgeous oversized coat from H&M. I got it on sale for an absolute steal as it was 50% off at £49.99 (previously £99.99)! I love the design and the fact it's so easy to pair with absolute anything. I've been wearing it with my rose gold sneakers for a casual look and with over the knee boots for a classed up style. Work or leisure, this coat will take me through few seasons I hope!
Total spent: £49.99
High Street / Boots
I love a good perfume and this Christmas I treated myself to a new bottle of Dolce & Gabbana The One. This is my absolute favourite scent. I first got this years ago from my first serious boyfriend and it became the scent for me. I wore it for years and used up countless bottles. It's one of those classy scents you can wear day and night. It's feminine, sweet but not too sweet and most importantly super sexy. You can get it in any Perfume store. I got mine from my friend Elwira. Thank you girl for hooking me up again!
Total spent: £45.00
High Street / Waterstones
Self proclaimed book nerd cannot go past a good book sale and I managed to grab two tiles I'm super excited to read. I plan on reading a minimum of 3 books per two months this year, so I stocked up during Christmas and now in sales. First up it's Paul Beatty's The Sellout, winner of Man Booker Prize 2016. It's an incredible satire at the racial injustice people are experiencing every day in modern world and an important subject to tackle. I can't wait to read it. I also picked up Austin Wright's Nocturnal Animals. I haven't seen the movie yet and I love to read a book first. Yes it's always better and no it doesn't spoil a movie for me. It's a psychological thriller about a woman who receives a book written by her ex husband in which he portrays a story of a violent crime. I think I'm going to enjoy the story as it came highly recommended by a friend.
What I love about this store and I highly recommend it, its the incredible amount of books at one place plus a lovely coffee shop on the first floor. I love it there and I highly recommend you check it out when you're in Birmingham City Centre next.
Total spent: £17.48
SOLIHULL
High Street / Space NK
I love Space NK but only last year did I discover I have one 10 mins away from my house! Since then, it had amounted to my makeup and skincare obsession. It's a lovely little store situated in Solihull on High Street. I adore the sales assistants and the store itself, so seeing a sale, I just had to walk in. Seeing Nude Skincare sets being 50% off I simply could not walk away. I got Nude Liquid Gold Collection for only £31.00 (previously £62.00!). The set consists of Perfect Cleanse Nourishing Cleansing Oil (RPR £28.00 for 100ml). This omega rich oils promises to gently cleanse the face and eye, removing makeup. The formula reminds me a lot of my favourite Superfacialist Vit C Cleansing Oil and the application is the same. Warm up few drops of oil in between your fingers and massage the makeup away. Apply warm water and the oil turns into a cleansing milk. I have to use quite a bit of Superfacialist Oil so I really want to see if Nude's formula is better and less wasteful. I'm not great at describing scents, but this one is super delicate, sweet and almost nutty (?). Can't wait to use it! Also in the set there's a full size Progenius Omega Treatment Milk (RPR £62.00 for 30ml). Formula is yet again packed with omega 3, 5. 6, 7 & 9 and it's described as a smoothie for the face. Suitable for face and neck area this lightweight milk works as a ultra hydrating and nourishing treatment and I plan to use it as such. It can be used alone or with Nude oils. I also managed to pick one up. It was a cute deluxe sample (10ml) of Progenius Firming Youth Oil (RPR £72.00 for 30ml). The formula packed with omegas as well as prickly pear and peacock's tail algae promises an ultimate glow to the skin. Suitable for day and night use, can be used alone or under moisturiser. I paid only £7.50 for it (previously £15.00) so it was a true bargain also! I love the packaging of both and I plan to re-use it. The full size set is hidden in a drawer type cardboard and I already removed the insights to reveal a deep drawer. I love it and it fits well underneath my palette storage. It's pale pink with gold leaves design so it looks beautifully on my vanity and provides an extra storage. The round box the oil came in will make a great bobby pin and hair bobbles storage.
I also picked up two Oskia Christmas Crackers. These were originally £18.50 so I grabbed two at that price and contain of 40ml luxury sample of Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel (RPR £29.50 for 100ml). It came highly recommended from Siobhán, whom I treat like a skincare guru. The bottles are super cute, just a smaller version of the original full size and I find the samples to be superb in terms of amount! 40ml or 80ml I have, are amazing at being able to test out the product and to get this at below £20.00 is a true bargain. I can't wait to use it!
Lastly I grabbed This Works Deep Sleep Night Time set. It consists of 75ml Deep Sleep Pillow Spray which I can't get enough of lately. I got a mini 5ml sample in my Advent Calendar and it's really amazing because it works (pun totally unintended!). For someone who suffers with severe insomnia (cheers to my anxiety and chronic pain, you rock! Booo!) any product that helps with going to sleep is a miracle. I'm super happy to have it full size now. Again thanks to a lovely Siobhán and her amazing BLOG that you just have to check out! It also includes a 10ml Sleep Balm, which I haven't tried yet but I plan to and hopefully this will help with the insomnia too. I paid only £11.00 for it too (previously £22.00) so again a total bargain!
Total spent: £68.00
This concludes my massive sales haul. I hope I illustrated how amazing and great shopping in Birmingham and Solihull can be. I purposely left Bullring out, as I plan to shop there after my spending ban is over and show you the incredible shops and offers you can get there! I hope you enjoyed this slightly different format of a haul. Let me know what you think! Did you manage to grab any bargains? Let me know!
Thank You For Reading,
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