It's Beginning To Look A lot Like Chirstmas

It comes and goes so quickly, you prepare weeks, some people even months in advance for the perfect day...Christmas is of course what i am talking about. Just as quickly as it comes around, it leaves.

I thought i would do a different Christmas style post. I wanted to share some pictures from what i've been up to leading up to Christmas and my Christmas day itself. Enjoy 

needed to get my Christmas home wear out along with the tree and all the lovely decorations.

winter wonderland - thought i would enjoy this ride, how wrong was i!

this one, not much better, very deceiving

Bicester Village, just outside Oxford 

CATS Oxford Theater - was amazing

Christmas day itself

I hope you have all had and are having a lovely Christmas and New Year's break

follow me on twitter @lndgirlblogging or @ella1993

and my instagram @ellar_93

Xx

The Beauty of Testers: Try Before You Buy

In my time I have received my fair share of free samples, mainly food or perfume, but beauty samples is something that has recently come to my knowledge with the help of my trusty Boots card. (If you don't have a Boots card, and if you live in the UK, get you hands on one!).

From my boots card I have received many offers for free samples and testers of Estee Lauder products, what more could you ask for?!

My most recent trip to the Estee Lauder counter got me two free samples of their double wear, and double wear light foundations. The lady who served me was so nice, and not only did she give me two different shades, despite the offer only saying one, she gave me two different types of foundation. As from the picture above, you can also see that my Boots card has also been given the chance to acquire a Mascara sample from Estee Lauder as well. 

Along from Estee Lauder most makeup counters will give you testers for foundation, or even loose powders. During one of my many trips to the MAC counter, I was given a tester pot of a loose powder that I was looking at. You can only ask!

And even better, this was from a limited edition collection as well, so I was surprised to be given a sample pot. 

I have to say, the only place I found to be a bit stingy with testers when I wanted to try out Giorgio Armani's Luminous Silk Foundation.

Not only is there a plus in trying out the testers of free makeup products, but of perfume and skin products as well. Most of the perfume testers are either freely handed out to you, or they slip some in your bag once you have made a purchase, again, like the makeup is a good way to test out new and classic fragrances along with the little tester bottles making for handy on the go perfume to throw in your bag.

Like previously mentioned, with certain shops, offers, or even if they are just feeling nice you will receive a free gift, like i did the other day, at the Models Own Stall, where they were giving away free eye liner pencils, and you didn't even have to purchase something, I however did!

Where do you find good samples, or freebees, I would love to know!

tweet me @lngirlblogging and follow me on Instagram @ellar_93

Xx

Brand Loving: Essie

I am a nails girl through and through, and a pet peeve of mine is having un-painted nails. I am a big fan of bio-gels, but these can rack up to be quite pricey having them done every month. So a good old fashion paint them yourselves is what you need. This is also just an excuse for me to buy more polishes.

About a year ago I discovered Essie, this was just after it had been launched in the high street stores (Boots and Superdrug). At £8 per polish it is at the higher end of the high street nail brand spectrum. Despite the higher pricing, I love Essie, their colours are endless in shades, great for colour pay off. With the polishes I own, with some of them I only need one coat and then a top coat and I'm ready to go! What more could you ask for!

Not only do I highly rate Essie polishes for their colour pay off, but for their staying power as well. No other polishes I have tried (aside from the bios) have the staying power of Essie. With a base coat, two coats of colour, and a top coat my Essie nails are good to go for at least 4-5 days, surviving my love for piping hot baths, diet coke cans, work and general every day life. 

Here are my most used colours, ps. Bahama Mama is great for the quickly approaching festive season!

Bahama Mama

Mint Candy Apple 

Muchi Muchi

what nail polish brands do you love?

tweet me @lndgirlblogging or follow me on instagram @ellar_93

xx