Cath Kidston Day Bag (Navy Spot)

Opening my order from John Lewis Online... 

Tadaa...

Pretty yet practical, Cath Kidston's classic day bag is the perfect size for carrying all of your daily essentials. Crafted from PVC coated cotton, its plastic, protective coating is functional and fashionable, whilst the sturdy cotton webbing grab handles are comfortable to hold. With a main zip fastening, the bag has 2 handy side pockets which are ideal for holding a bottle of water or your umbrella. The interior features a cotton lining, and a zip pocket.

The dimensions are H25xW36.5xD14 cm. But please note that the bag has deep zipper, so high will be not as high as 25cm. When I put my D3100 camera, it became congested. In the beginning, the zipper was quite tough. I put some baby oil to ease it. Now, no problem. The two winged pockets are bonus... I like to wear Cath Kidston bags in this season due the materials durability towards rain... I think I prefer this design/print than the Kensington Rose day bag. The spot design is more versatile and look more fresh... 

Love it!

Oh, about the price... The RRP is £50. But I bought it from John Lewis with 30% discount at £35. I think (as 28 January 2014), John Lewis still have that promotion. Grab yours now!

To my fellow student friends, register yourself at Unidays now for Cath Kidston 10% discount (non-sale items). Hooray!!! 

Beauty: Benefit Watt's Up

Benefit Watt's Up Highlighter is a delicate 'champagne' sheer highlighter. It has cream to powder finish... Just glide on cheek & brow bones, then use the blender (sponge) for the perfect glow. 

I was going to buy Benefit High Beam but I found it too 'white' for my complexion (yellow based). I tried the Sun Beam but it just sinked... So the beauty advisor advised me on trying Watt's Up... It more easier to apply and control because Watt's Up is in stick form whilst High Beam is in liquid form. Slightly pricier than High Beam... Watt's Up is £24.50 (9.4g). It came in beautiful & cool package and has a sponge at the other end for blending...

Swatches...

Overall;

Price: 3.5/5 - it's a bit expensive for a small volume of make-up...

Colour: 4.5/5

Application: 4/5

Reliability: 4.5/5

Overall experience: 4.5/5

Longchamp Le Pliage "Shopping" S (Tote in Small)

I bought a new Longchamp Le Pliage...

Image from Longchamp UK website

Longchamp Le Pliage "Shopping" S (Tote in Small)

Colour: Taupe

Dimension: 25 x 25 x14 cm

High street price: £59

Airport price: £50

For more information, please click here

Benefit The POREfessional Pro Balm

Benefit claimed the primer/balm can minimise the appearance of pores. It oil-free, lightweight, translucent and silky. 

It can be use before make-up as primer and touch-up. I was surprised how efficient this product can be! Not only, the primer/balm sinked into the skin, the balm colour also 'disappeared' into my skin colour. I'm happy that this primer/balm did not contradict with my foundation colour. My skin became smooth and silky. Applying the foundation became easier. Seriously, I am so impress with this product. I tried to use this balm as touch-up, I just pat on lightly over my make-up, and my face looked fresh afterwards.

I bought the special set (available in airport outlet) came with It's Potent eye cream (3g) and "That Gal" brightening face primer (7.5mL).

High street price: £24.50
Airport price: £20.80

Overall;

Price: 3.5/5 - expensive for 22mL primer

Colour: 5/5

Application: 5/5 - really easy, no brainer... 

Reliability: 5/5

Overall experience: 4.5/5

December Beauty Haul - Benefit

Suddenly, I becoming obsessed with Benefit... This month I bought three Benefit products...

The POREfessional - Primer / Pore Reducer Balm (22mL) set. 

With It's Potent eye cream (3g) and "That Gal" brightening face primer (7.5mL)

High street price: £24.50

Airport price: £20.80

Watt's up! Soft focus highlighter for face (9.4g)

High street price: £24.50 

Bought: £22.05 (I bought it from John Lewis with 10% discount)

Hydra Smooth Lip Color in Fling Thing (3g)

High street price: £15

ASOS price: £11.25 (with 25% discount during Christmas shopping promotion)

So far, I am really happy and satisfied with the quality of each product. They got a lot of positive reviews from beauty bloggers... But a little concern on the prices. Even though Benefit has really cool packaging and naming, is quite expensive if you calculated based on the volume. Benefit sells less volume compared to other brand.

Well, definitely, these are not going to the last...

To fellow students, subscribe to UNIDAYS and get 10% on Benefit... 

L'Occitane Hair Care - Repairing Oil and Control Mist

My history...

When I was in Paris, I saw a lot of L'Occitane shop around city. I had a chance on trying some of their products a few years ago but the high price tag hindered me from being their customer. After hours of waiting for my train at Paris Gare Du Nord, I took a lap at their shops (there is no tax-free shop in here). I went into the L'Occitane shop. I tried their repairing oil and OMG!!! I totally hooked...

Let me me share my experience with you...

Transform your hair from dry and damaged to strong and shiny. The formula captures all the effectiveness of sweet almond oil, rich vitamins and Omega 9, as well as five essential oil with regenerating properties. Just a few drops of this treatment applied to the tips of hair before styling or blow drying - L'Occitane

I can't remember how much I paid for this hair oil in Euro but you can get it in UK outlet for £15 (100mL). Still a permissible amount for travelling. I have been using this for 4 months plus now. From summer to autumn. I found this oil is amazing.  It's now 'heavy' for summer and its adequate for autumn. Apart from the divine smell, it totally work! I just need one pump for my whole hair. If I'm planning for an up-do, I used a little bit more.  

My hair feel so much softer afterwards and smell tremendously great, like wearing a perfume on your hair. I'm not exaggerating, giggles... The texture improved after a few weeks of usage. And again, my hair is well moisturised without being oily and weighting down. 

The repairing oil pump

One doesn't enough isn't? So, I bought another product under the same range; Control Mist for dry & damaged hair (£14.50 for 100mL). I use this hair mist in between washes as the repairing oil would be too 'heavy' for me. The mist is more watery and light in texture, perfect for everyday. It's also perfect to remove unpleasant odours (cigarette and cooking odours). 

The Control Mist spray

p/s - my other half loves it too (the first ever product that I bought that he totally get, LOL!). If an alpha male with a rocker hair loves it, why don't you? :)

Anecdote 2017: Sadly this product is not available in Malaysia

Autumn / Winter Beauty Haul and Favourite!

Living in four seasons country is quite tricky. You have to change your lifestyle every 3-4 months and keep on changing or finding a suitable body care or skincare to suit your need... It's getting cold and the air is getting dryer. Not to mention that your skin will getting dryer indoor due to heater...

Now I'm changing my beauty regime to extra moisturising type and creamy texture skincare. Without further a due, I present to you my Autumn-Winter favourite!

From top left clockwise: Lancome Teint Miracle (04), Lancome Advanced Genefique, Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser, L'occitane Repairing Oil & Mist and Clarins Extra Comfort Cleansing Cream.

Me and MICHAEL Michael Kors Jet Set Logo Top Zip Tote - Love in Paris

Image from Michael Kors website

I'm a fan of Michael Kors Jet Set tote and Hamilton but a little bit sceptical about the non-zip / open tote design - safety reasons. The tote was made from PVC; in my opinion, MK is an over price bag. But never the less, I couldn't help on getting one.... Naughty!

I bought MK Jet Set Logo Top Zip Tote at La Vallee Village Designer Outlet, Paris last summer. I can't remember the outlet price but I paid around €100 (after 10% VIP member). Retail price €200++. I couldn't be more happier. Then, I swapped my Le Pliage to this new bag and paraded it around Paris.

My review...
This tote has an excellent design with additional two winged pockets and the famous MK gold medallion - appropriately put. I'm comfortable with the size; not too big yet not small either. It quite light; maybe because of the materials used (not a real leather). Inside the bag; It has four inside open pockets and one zipped pocket - again intelligently designed. The lining made from thick quality satin with MK monogram.

Note: I bought the outlet version; some of the bag features have been 'downgraded' to meet the 'outlet price'. The most notable difference are the handle / shoulder strap and the satin lining.

I once used it during rain, and I was soaked wet. When I got home, I wiped it with a dry cloth and the bag is still in a good shape. Hooray for PVC???

Looking at the design, it is a well designed bag but looking at the price, hurm I'm not sure... But again, heart wants what the heart wants...

Don't throw your coins away, save them...

I didn't knw before... I don't even care and annoyed with this small coins of 1, 2, 5 pence that laying around my house. Too heavy to carry around, too little value to spend it... Boy! I was wrong. I found a solution... COINSTAR.

COINSTAR is a 'service' that change your coin to money that you can spend or donate. The machine is like a vending machine situated in most supermarket like Asda, Sainsbury's, Morrison and Tesco. You just pour your coins  in the machine and it will calculate the amount of it. Then, you can choose weather you would like to have a cash voucher or donate it to charity. Don't worry about euros or other foreign currency, the machine will automatically 'reject' those coins. If you choose cash, a voucher will be printed and you must redeem the cash at the supermarket's Customer Service on the same day. Easy right? Such a no brainier... 

June Cath Kidston Haul

It's crazy, but true!!!
I was going to buy just one, but end up buying three!!! My justification- it was on SALE!!!

  

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Train Zip Bag; RRP £30 Sale Price £22

Train Folded Zip Wallet RRP £26 Sale Price £13

Train Ticket Holder RRP £6 Sale Price £4

The purse is made from the CK famous oilcloth and the inside is made from cotton. You can store up to 12 cards inside the purse yet it still have two pockets each side. It has 2 coin compartments. The zip holder and the strap are made from leather. So cute!!!

Hehehe... ♥♥♥