Hey Sweeties,
I have been itching to go and visit The Cosmetics Company store in Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth for ages but it’s hardly somewhere I can just casually pop to unfortunately, so I have been ever so patient and waited until an opportunity arose to do so. Fortunately, this was last weekend –Ian was attending a football match down there so I decided I would go with him and go shopping instead!
This to date, I think is my most expensive beauty haul which amuses me really as for someone so firm in not spending lots of money on high end products because essentially I don’t feel I need to, as you’ll read in a moment, when you find those dream items price it seems, becomes irrelevant. Maybe this rule just applies differently to outlet shopping? Hmmm…
So, despite a strict budget (which I did sort of keep to) for the day, I did blow 99% of it on beauty but the day wasn’t without sacrifice; I had to abandon hopes of anything from Origins and a Mac blusher got put back, but hey ho. Beauty is pain.
The store isn’t that big but it is packed with different brands. Immediately upon entering Mac is to your left so I darted there first and had a beautiful light peachy pink blusher –Immortal Flower– in my grasp quite quickly. I moved on.
It actually took me a few minutes to realise there was a Smashbox stand at the back however, once this was on my radar there was no stopping me getting to it. For regular readers you’ll remember that I have recently purchased a lipstick from Smashbox and I have said how eager I am to explore the brand more and treat myself to a consultation in the near future, so you can only but imagine what I was like faced with a whole stand of reduced products! I initially grabbed the photo finish primer which has not had a bad word said against it and it is regularly featured up there with the best primers on the market. But next to it was the ‘Try it Kit’ containing a BB cream, Halo powder, a brush and the primer as a bonus addition to the set. This to me seemed the obvious choice to purchase.
To the left of the Smashbox stand was Bobbi Brown and this is another of the brands I am itching to try. I have her make-up manual and there is a store in Windsor where each time I pass the window I hover and gaze in. I have pretty much already decided that Bobbi Brown will be who I select for my wedding make-up (when the time comes) but I can’t wait that long before trying something.
-Now here is my surprise purchase if you remember what I said earlier about spending too much on a single (high end) item-
A few things caught my attention as I was browsing the stand but then I got to this pink blusher –French Pink– with a brush next to it I naturally took a swipe of it across the back of my hand. Oh my God, it was love. It was also, £24.50. Who cared, I needed it (and it did come with a brush…)!
I now had a Mac blusher, Smashbox Try it Kit and Bobbi Brown’s French Pink Set in my hand… something had to give. I tried putting back the Bobbi Brown blusher but I just couldn’t so Mac had to go. Ouch!
In all, I went into and around the store about three times during the three or four hours I spent at Gunwharf Quays –my first initial visit, second to go back and check the Mac blusher as I was convinced I could find the budget from somewhere… but I still walked away (*pats self on back*). I went in for a third time to go and re investigate the Bobbi Brown stand as I had swatched a gorgeous purple eye shadow pencil/stick and it literally didn’t budge from my hand… I was tempted but at £14 it took me over budget. I genuinely didn’t need it (said no woman ever except today). BUT, I did manage a cheeky nail varnish purchase –Bobbi Brown’s Tuxedo Black- which I thought for Christmas with some silver glitter over the top would look fabulous. So I totally justified it.
Phew!
I will review and do separate posts on each of the above over the next few weeks so be assured I will confirm if my most expensive beauty haul was money well spent.
Sweetie needs a lie down now!
Until next time x