Beauty Essentials and Beauty Regrets with Drugstore Junkie!

I'm doing a collab post this week with the very sweet and lovely Katy from the Drugstore Junkie Blog. I first came across her when randomly clicking through bloglovin one day and instantly loved her blog. We have very similar taste in make up and write similar posts so I thought it would be fun to do my very first collab with her!

We decided to write about 3 products we cant live without and 3 products we regret buying as all girls will have those staple go to products they can always rely on and we all have the beauty blunders where we go crazy in the local drugstore and buy everything we can get our hands on and some will inevitably end up in the bin for begin completely rubbish. I have done this many a times.

To start off both of our 6 beauty essentials are;

Katie: At the top of my beauty essentials list has got too be my Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream. This is the best thing for chapped lips. For years I swore by Cherry flavoured carmex and I found this about a year ago and couldnt understand how I had never come across this! I like to put it on at night when my lips are feeling particularly dry or chapped and they are so smooth by the morning! Would recommend to everyone and you can find it cheaper on allbeauty.com! 

Katy: My top beauty need is a boring one which most people have it is the Mac Studio Fix foundation in a shade NW15, I've never ever found a foundation which matches my colour so well and has such a good coverage as I have some discolouring on my face which I hate. Also it lasts ages! I never ever throw it away without scraping every last bit out with the pump tube it might be more expensive than drugstore at £25 (if you order online with p&p) but you can't beat it. 

Katie: Garnier's Micellar Cleansing Water is a product I find myself obsessing over when I run out. I always repurchase it when it gets below a quarter full now so i never have to worry but when I first used it, when I just wanted to see what the fuss was all about, I ran out and really noticed the difference when I had to go back to wipes for about a week (naughty me).
This lovely product just gets rid of all my makeup and all the muck that ends up on your face, I especially love it because it doesn't have a scent!

Katy: This is quite a recent discovery! The W7 In The Buff eyeshdow palette I don't think I can express my love from this if you love neutral shades and long lasting pigments but don't want to spend £38 on the Naked 2 palette this is for you and they range between £5-7 depending on where you buy it! I love the shades and its actually left my MUA palettes in sulking in the drawer, I reach for this everyday without fail!

Katie: I had to include Lancome's Grandoise mascara. I have spoken about this twice before so I wont't drone on about it but as I've said before its the best mascara I have used. I got my first one at Christmas and just repurchased a new one so it lasted pretty well! As a beauty enthusiast I managed to save all my Boots points from buying way too many Barry M nail varnishes and Rimmel concealer sticks I was able to afford the £27!

Katy: My last one is my favourite at the moment and its Mr Blanc whitening stripes these are amazing! I've even subscribed monthly I noticed a difference from day one and so did my boyfriend. I think they are so cheap compared to some whitening stripes which do nothing! These are £20 a month or they do different amounts for different prices.

And our 6 beauty regrets are:

Katie: No7 is such a disappointment for me and I will have a rant now... 

The brand as a whole is a complete let down and overly priced (sorry if you like No7). When I was looking for a new foundation one day I thought it would be nice to go to my nearest No7 counter and try their skin match device thingy. This was before I tried any of their products and to be honest I wish I hadn't. 

As I had been to the gym before I went my face was still quite flushed (I look like a beetroot when working out) so the very nice lady offered to do the skin match on my neck instead of my red cheek. The device done its thing and somehow assumed my skin matched the palest shade that they stocked. 

I am nowhere near as pale as the shade but the lady still pushed that I only buy in that shade so I felt pressured to get it! It ended up being the Essentially Natural Foundation in the shade Calico. It's terrible colour and consistency wouldn't blend onto my face properly and looked streaky and felt sticky. I will never buy or use anything from them again.

Katy: My beauty regret is the Schwarzkopf POWDER'ful volumizing styling powder. First of all this didn't work for me at all, all it did was matte my hair up and made me have to wash my hair every time I used it, it gave me some volume but really it went greasy and went flat again. This  wasn't cheap either it was near the £5 mark at least when I bought it. 

Katie: Another massive let down for me was the Rapid White Express Whitening Strips. These are a 7 day whitening process but I have had it in my dresser for the last 18 months. As I drink a lot of tea and coffee I thought i could do with some whitening strips just to brighten my teeth. I was excited to use them and they seemed easy to use but as soon as I applied the strip to my teeth I could immediately taste what seemed like a whole roll of aluminium foil in my mouth. They are meant to dissolve within 5 minutes and you shouldn't let your lips or gum touch the strip. After about 8 mins of sitting looking possessed by some teeth whitening demon it was obvious the metal tasting gel wasn't dissolving and I ended up spitting it out. I cannot describe the vile taste enough for you to understand not to buy these!

Katy: Okay so this isn't a bad buy for £1.99, it's the Natural Collection Eyeliner. It's perfect if you want to experiment with eyeliner but I overall prefer felt liners, I think they are so, so much easier to apply as they are literally like a felt tip pen. I can't fault this at all though because it's £1.99 I just don't like the application and after getting into make-up I've found different brands I like. 

Katie: My last regret (although I could go on but must refrain) is the Schwarzkopf got2b Texturizing Salt Spray. I love the oil from this collection but the salt spray just didnt agree with my hair. Where it says beach matt it really means "MATTE" like matted hair, like really bad matted hair. I bought this for my holiday last year forgetting how my hair battles  with sea water as it is, I'm shocked at myself for wasting £5 on this. It is still full!

Katy:

My last beauty regret I've had for maybe even longer than a year or so, it should really go into the bin but it's here anyway before it does. It's the 2true Bronzing Powder this is only sold in Superdrug and it was when I was really getting into make-up on a cheap budget I can't remember how much it was but its literally orange on my face and does not blend whatsoever, I wish this brand was good but it honestly isn't, nothing I've bought from this range has ever been any good.

Katie

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Katy

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Find me elsewhere:

Twitter- twitter.com/katie_hp

Instagram- instagram.com/katie_hp/

Facebook- www.facebook.com/katie.harperpenman

Pinterest- uk.pinterest.com/harperpenman/

Tumblr- www.tumblr.com/blog/kmhp

Find Katy elsewhere:

Twitter twitter.com/katykader

Instagram instagram.com/katykader

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kayteakadersyoutube

May Favourites

Last month I really did try to get a draft set up for an April favourites post but I just didn't get round to it, I thought instead that I would write a mid-may favourites as not to get behind on my blog.


Hair and Beauty Favourites

I have been obsessed with my Bobbi Brown Copper Diamond Shimmer Brick that I got from my sister at Christmas. I use a little bit of this every day to highlight my cheek bones and it gives such a gorgeous glow. Its even nice to use as an eyeshadow replacement for a golden goddess look! I get so many compliments when I wear this and really recommend it, trouble is it's a Christmas edition so they don't sell it any more! 

Speaking of golden goddesses, I am a fake tan fanatic much to my boyfriends dismay! I never like to look too dark though so whatever I buy I always get the light or medium shade, never go dark! This St Moriz Mousse is just the best! Its cheap, it lasts ages and gives me the best glow. I tend to reapply once a week and usually do it in the evening using a mitt, then I shower in the morning and all the residue washes away leaving a really nice glow behind.  I find if I use this method it wont give me splash marks if its raining or when I was my hands. The tan usually lasts a good 3-4 days.

This months hair favourite has been VO5s Strong Hold Hairspray. Where it is getting warmer outside I prefer to have my hair up in a bun instead of around my neck and shoulders and as I have a lot of layers I tend to get a lot of fly-aways and strands that fall out. This monster can of hairspray works wonders and keeps my hair in place all day long. It also brushes out really easily so I don't have to wash my hair that night and can wear it down the next day, I don't usually find that with a lot of hairsprays.

Favourite Food

I have been making sweet potato fries a lot recently. As well as being healthier than your usual french fries they taste so yummy! If you season them with a bit of spice and drizzle with olive oil before cooking they'll be crispy with a nice kick. I usually have these with chicken breast and veggies after I finish at the gym. I do want to do a recipe post on these in  the future but where I am moving house very soon all kitchen utensils are packed away and we're living off ready meals!

Favourite Book

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton. 

   I picked this book up a few months back when there was a deal in WHSmiths. It was in the top charts so I thought I would give it a try as when I read the back it sounded very mysterious and exciting. The plot (without giving the story away) is a young woman, Nella (short for Petronella) moves to Amsterdam in 1686 to start a new life with her husband. As a wedding present her husband gifts her with a cabinet-sized replica of their home. Nella seeks out a miniaturist to help furnish this house but their creations seem to be predicting their future and somehow holds their fate. The book was gripping at times but the story overall was very slow moving, I personally feel the characters' relations could have gone deeper but all in all I did enjoy this book and it was a nice read.

Favourite Youtubers

I have been obsessed with watching Shaytards vlogs this month! They are just the coolest family and so entertaining. If you haven't watched any of their vlogs before I really recommend you do! Its about a family with 5 kids living their life vlogging every single day and they're completely mad!

Origins Event: Meeting Tanya Burr

Yesterday was such an amazing day for me as I finally got to meet the very lovely Tanya Burr. Myself and my sister were fortunate enough to win V.I.P tickets along with 49 others to attend an Origins event hosted by John Lewis. It was a rooftop event and although the sun didn't manage to stick it out for the day, it was a really beautiful event. They laid fake grass down and had cute little beach huts where you can buy Tanya's favourite origins products or grab an apple, strawberry and ginger juice! Yummy!

We were one of the first in the queue so they put us up in the lift and as we walked outside their were people taking pictures and waiters offered juices and natural granola bar snacks. First, we had a skin consultation where an Origins representative would ask what our daily skin regime is like and if we consider our skin oily, sensitive or dry. I got to try the Ginzing face scrub which smells lovely and also the Drink Up Intensive Overnight mask which smells like apricots and is super moisturising.

After our skin consultation we snapped a few photos in the selfie booth and then had a look at the view from the roof!

I then went to one of the little huts to purchase some products, I picked up the Ginzing scrub and the Drink Up Intensive Overnight mask I was recommended but the kind lady that gave me the skin consultation and they gave me a free copy of her book Love, Tanya! I thought it was really cool that you get a free copy of the book with any purchase.

Soon Tanya was introduced and the Origins general manager spoke to her for a little while about Tanya's favourite products and she gave us her top 5 tips for beautiful skin, some where drink lots of water and always take your makeup off. Classic rules any beauty guru will know!

And then it was time to meet Tanya! She signed the copy of her book I got with my purchases and had a little chat with me, unfortunately she was feeling poorly so her manager was quick to get her a lemon detox drink. She mentioned her new products coming out and she told me the packaging would be changing and she's going for a completely new look. (She also said I was the first she told about it, inside scoop!) I tried to ask what kind of products she was bringing out but I understood she may want to keep it a surprise, I did ask if she was thinking about doing foundation as I know she does love a good Armani or NARS foundation. She said she's not doing foundation YET and I told her she must do pale shades when she eventually does as I can never find one pale enough when I'm skipped the fake tan during the winter. I then snapped a few selfies with her and wished her the best for her upcoming wedding to Jim Chapman!

It was so exciting finally getting to meet her as she was the one who really got me into makeup. I have always loved experimenting but I never ventured out and tried different looks and I find whatever she recommends I'll usually go to the shop and buy it and LOVE it! She is my ultimate beauty inspiration and it was lovely getting to meet her in person.

While I waited for my sister to meet Tanya, I bumped into Dom, the gleam manager. Those of you who watch her vlogs will have seen him before a few times. He was really nice so we just stood and had a chat. He told me about the Louise Live tour that is happening soon but unfortunately the London tickets are already sold out even though I would love to go! 

After Cara had spoken with Tanya we decided we couldn't wait any longer for food and went to leave for a Wagamamas, upon leaving the Origins representatives gave us a cute little origins bag which had a few samples in it! 

It really was a fabulous little evening and we went home on such a high that we got to meet our beauty inspiration!

Katie

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Drugstore Favourites Under £10

There are always going to be those few bargain drugstore products that you repurchase again and again because you know the colour suits you, its good value for money and you get those beauty points every time you repurchase!

I love drugstore makeup, its so cheap, the quality is good and there's always a shop nearby. I don't have to worry about waiting for a trip to London or to the airport for a SpaceNK shop or Charlotte Tilbury counter where I would end up buying the cheapest product. I can just pop to the nearest high street or shopping mall and grab all I need!

Below are a few of my favourite drugstore items!

The Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation is my ultimate favourite foundation. Nothing makes my skin feel plumper and more refreshed! I use it in the shade Ivory on my pale days. On the days I wear fake tan I use True Ivory as it is slightly darker with an orange tone that doesn't leave me looking cakey.

My second favourite definitely has to be the Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paint. When I take a break from wearing acrylics I like to opt for a Gel paint as it is much more stronger and longer lasting that your everyday nail polish. The Barry M Gel Paint is quite thick and gloopy but doesn't go streaky while applying. My favourite shade of this is 'Pomegranate' but I have 'Sugar Apple' and 'Mango' on my wishlist!

My favourite drugstore mascara is Maybellines The Falsies and it has been a favourite for a good 5 years. This is an everyday wear mascara for me that I can always depend on! I get long fluttery eyelashes with every use and it doesn't try out quickly!

My last favourite is Soap & Glorys Flake Away Body Scrub. This stuff is just the best, it leaves my skin feeling silky soft and I have repurchased this about 5 times. You get 300ml in one of their large pots of this and it lasts for ages. It has the fruity Soap & Glory scent that everybody loves, its good enough to eat! Though I wouldn't recommend it! It contains Grapeseed and Almond oils which is super softening for your skin and the scrub is made from grit salt. It is very chunky and rough so wouldn't recommend using it on your neck or armpits unless you want an uncomfortable rash but it is perfect for using on dry legs! 

These are all my favourite drugstore products which  are all under £10 and I would repurchase them again and again! What are your favourites?

Katie

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Motivational Monday

The main reason I write motivational Monday posts is to have a reminder each week to myself to be grateful for something and to keep me going when things seem crappy. I list the things I'm happy for  this week too as it would be so easy to write 100 things that happened that I'm angry about. People find it easier to see the bad in things rather than the great, if I list these once a week I'm sure it will get stuck in my head one day to always look on the bright side of life *whistles*.

This week I want to remind myself and others that no matter how many times you may fail or get rejected, always get back on the horse and try again.

A  quote I really like is "If someone tells you no, you're asking the wrong person"

This means to always strive for what you desire no matter how disheartening rejection may be and not to give up. 

My biggest motivation is my mum. The one who's always on the other end of the phone when I cry from the stress of  life and encourages me to get on with it. She supports me every day and I'm very grateful to her.

This week I'm happy for:-

1. Taking dogs for a walk at 7pm and it still be baking hot!

2. A lazy sunday with Dean  spent watching films

3. Winning V.I.P tickets to meet Tanya Burr next Wednesday! :D

4. Positive feedback from a job interview

5. How my cat meows in reply to almost anything you say

Hope you all have a lovely week!

Katie

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The Blusher Tag

I saw this tag on 'A Life With Frills' blog and I thought I'd give this a go. I do love blusher and wish I was a bit more daring with the shades I choose but anyway I thought I'd tag some other bloggers to do it too.

What colour blush suits you the most?

Pink shades suit me the most, like a dusty rose or mauve based shade.

Pressed, cream or loose?

Pressed is definitely the easiest to use I find but I do like using loose too for a bit more colour and blendability.

Favourite shimmery blush?

My favourite shimmery blush is Benefit's Coralista I have been using this since I was 16 and love the coral/pink shade. However, I never use the brush that comes in the little cardboard box and find the packaging quite rubbish but I guess that means they invest more in the actual product so I can't complain.

Favourite matte blush?

I have really been loving Max Factor Creme Puff Blush in Seductive Pink this is the perfect matte blush that gives a healthy glow.

Favourite cream blush?

All of Topshops cream blushers are lovely I especially liked the shade 'Flush'. I actually lost this a while ago but it gave such a beautiful dewy look and it is an orange blusher which is perfect for summer holidays. I will repurchase this again one day...

Favourite drugstore blush?

This has got to be MUAs blusher in Marshmallow, this blusher is only £1! This electric pink shade is perfect for evenings and is highly pigmented. People might think it's quite a risky blusher as it is so bright but it works really well on a brush applicator.

Favourite MAC blush?

I don't actually own any MAC blushes! YET :(

Biggest blush disappointment?

Bourjois Little Round Pot Blusher- mentioned before in a post you can read here- this blusher was just overall crap! No pigmentation whatsoever and very difficult application.

Best blush packaging?

The best packaging I have found is Sleek's Blusher. I have the shade Rose Gold which is a beautiful shimmery colour. the packaging is plain black and is a compact. I have dropped it a few times and it hasn't broken which  makes it a real winner for me.

What's on your blush wishlist?

NARS Angelika

NARS Deepthroat

MAC Well Dressed

Holy grail blush?

Max Factor Creme Puff Blush in Seductive Pink. As mentioned above, I wear this everyday and it is the colour perfect for my skin tone.

I tag Kim form Londonstagraam,  Alice from Always,Alice x and Katy from Drugstore Junkie, if they haven't already done it that is!

Katie

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Summer Glow Makeup Look

For ages I have been wanting to a makeup tutorial type post because I love doing makeup so much but I rarely get the chance to do other people's. So when me and my sister had a BBQ to go to this weekend we took advantage of the opportunity and the lovely summer weather to create a fresh summer glow. Here is how I created this look below.

I started off by applying Garniers illuminating light lotion to Cara's face. This moisturiser is brilliant to use when creating a 'glowing' look as it has built in light reflecting pearls. It is also fast absorbing so you can apply primer straight over the top. 
I used Benefit's The POREfessional to minimise pores and create a soft blendable base for Rimmel's Wake me Up Foundation in the shade 'Classic Beige' to go over. I used the real techniques face blender brush to apply the foundation and kept buffing it in circular motions to eliminate any streaks or patches and make the base look flawless. Then I used the Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer to cover any dark spots or blemishes and a the collection concealer to brighten under the eyes. Along with the concealer I applied Benefit's High Beam by dotting it along the cheekbones, down the bridge of Cara's nose and on her cupid's bow, I blended this all in using a beauty blender. 
I then went onto contouring using Soleil Tan De Chanel which is a brilliant bronzing makeup base. I used a real techniques face blender brush for this too as it just has the right shape to get into the hollows of the cheeks. The easiest way to contour, I find, is sucking your cheeks in like a fish to pinpoint exactly where the dark shade needs to go. I also applied this base under the jawline and on the temples in the shape of the number 3.
I then set this all with Rimmel's  Stay Matte Powder using a large powder brush.

To add more colour and definition to her eyebrows I used Urban Decay's Naked Basics Palette eyeshadow in 'Faint'. Using an angled brush I gently applied this eyeshadow in strokes to create a more defined and arched look and also filled in gaps. I always like to use Brow This Way Styling Gel to keep them in place while maintaining thickness.

As Cara has quite small eyelids we thought it would be better to go for one block colour, I used Maybelline's Colour Tattoo in the shade 'Pink Gold' for a dewy and shimmery look without being too heavy on the eyes, I applied this with my ring finger and simply blended it using a MAC 217 brush.
To keep the eyes simple I applied a very thin layer of eyeliner along her top lash line using Revlon Colourstay Liquid Eye Pen and then applied Lancome's Grandoise mascara for long fluttery eyelashes. I have raved about this mascara in a previous post you can read here. It is honestly the best mascara I have ever used and people always comment on how long it makes your lashes look.

For the cheeks we went for Max Factor's Creme Puff Blush in the shade 'Seductive Pink' for a slight pink glow and using a Real Techniques Contouring Brush I applied some of NARS' Laguna Bronzer into the hollows of her cheeks for a more defined cheekbone. To add extra golden glow I finished off with Bobbi Brown's Shimmer Brick in Copper Diamond. This was part of the Christmas collection so you can't buy it any more. But this gave such a gorgeous, bright, summer glow to Cara's face.

We finished off the whole look with L'Oreal's Colour Riche Extraordinaire in 'Molto Mauve'. This is a pink/nude creamy lip gloss, I wouldn't say it is very Mauve but it does have some dark tone to it. The colour just suited the look and eyeshadow perfectly, it's very simple and I didn't want anything to be dramatic and to just really let the golden glow speak for itself.


Below are some pictures I took and some from the BBQ later during the day.

Katie 

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Motivational Monday

Today, I want to remember those around me who encourage me, support me, love me and just generally make me smile. 

This saying is always being thrown about, to surround yourself with people who help your being. 

We shouldn't just think about what we can do for others, sometimes we need to think about what they can do for us. There's no point in wasting your life being surrounded by negative people who constantly bring you down or are a bad influence on you or burden you with their own problems. We must seek out those who promote self-esteem, those who will put you on a pedestal when you are lacking self confidence, those who support your crazy decisions and don't criticise.

I'm so fortunate to have a family that are there to support me in all I do, a boyfriend that always makes me laugh and teaches me not to take life too seriously and crazy friends that are always a phone call or text away , whether it's to bitch about something or to go out and satisfy my need of wine.

This week I am happy for:-

1.  One too many cocktails with my girl friends

2.  Getting drunk on a Tuesday night

3. Beautiful sunny weather for a BBQ

4. My cats cuddling nicely on the bed instead of fighting

5. Managing to stay up past 11 some nights and still make it through the next day

What are you happy for?

Katie

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My Teenage Makeup

I remember being around the age of 14 when I started experimenting with makeup. In school I would buy the cheapest thing going and it always ended up being the worst. Around that time I was going for colours that didn't suit my skin tone, over-applied eyeliner and used so much sickly sweet perfume I was offending people's nostrils. Nowadays I'd like to think I have my makeup collection sorted and have more of an idea on what colours suit me. 

However, it's nice to reminisce so here's what my teenage self would use when applying makeup after school hidden away from the teachers to go hang out at the bus stops with friends. Cringe.

Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse
I wasn't really one to know how to use foundation properly or even apply it right so Maybelline's Dream Matte Mousse was the go-to base. I particularly remember buying it in the shade 'Nude' and it had a slight yellow tinge to it. The colour did not suit me at all and I had that very obvious line on my jaw showing just how terrible the colour match was. The consistency of the mousse was very cakey however drying on my skin, I definitely will never repurchase one of these little pots.

Bourjois Bronzing Powder
I still see some beauty bloggers raving about the Bourjois Bronzing Powder and I cannot understand why. I remember rubbing my brush against the palette with so much force trying to get some colour onto it. It's honestly terrible. Yes it does smell like chocolate but why do I went my face to smell like something I eat? I remember instantly getting fed up with this and giving it to a friend who begged me for it. Waste not want not.

Bourjois Blusher
I remember buying my first Bourjois Blusher in the shade 'Rose Eclait'. I had never bought a blusher before and during the big Bourjois craze I decided to go for the little pink pot. This product, like the bronzer, was still is terrible quality and the product just wouldn't go onto my brush. So after lots of hassle with the bronzer and blusher I would head out of the house completely yellow in my dream matte mousse. 

(slaps face)

Rimmel Max Volume Flash Mascara
For mascara I always opted for Rimmel's Max Volume Flash. I remember this mascara being particularly good for volumising my lashes and must've bought about 20 of these between the ages of 14 and 17. I had completely forgotten about it until I decided to write this post and had to cast my mind back. It makes me want to go to my nearest boots at lunchtime and buy one! The brush is very big and bristly so when it dries out it does go a horrible shape and you know you definitely have to throw it away but it is cheap so I will definitely use this again.

Rimmel Soft Khol Eye Pencil
Although I never went near eyeshadow as it was just too scary to me, I did think for some reason that eyeliner was the safer option and to just apply as much as humanly possible. This was before I mastered the impossible art of applying liquid eyeliner so I would just put Rimmel's Soft Khol Eye Pencil on my lower lash line and leave it at that. I cringe to remember it.

Britney Spears Midnight Fantasy Perfume
Lastly, I would spray half a bottle of perfume before heading out the door. I used to be obsessed with Britney Spears' Midnight Fantasy which I remember being extremely fruity and particularly sweet. Everytime I smell this perfume now it takes me back to spending all day at the park drinking cans of relentless and getting super hyper. I also remember having really dark brown hair with a massive side fringe and bright pink skinny jeans.

So there's some of my teenage beauty blunders it makes me want to go through my old myspace and laugh at myself!!

Katie 

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