mrsjennyws

Now I just wanted to do a post for all your UK gals who are NOT buying your makeup from Debenhams and are not part of their Beauty Club.

Now I have quite a few 'beauty' cards...Boots, Superdrug, The Body Shop, House of Fraser, but my favourite is by far my Debenhams Beauty Club card.
Since I started off my makeup journey last May, this card has served me VERY well. Maybe a little too well as sometimes they have such good deals, that I can't help but buy more just to get extra points.

What a shame that is.

So, let me break it down for ya.

Debenhams says...The Beauty Club Reward Card is a loyalty card that lets you collect points and earn rewards £'s when you shop Beauty, Fragrance & Beauty Electricals in store or online. As a Debenhams Beauty Club member, the VIP treatment doesn't just stop at Points & Rewards!
You will also benefit from:
    * FREE makeovers and skincare consultations at your favourite counters
    * FREE delivery when you use your Beauty Club Reward Card online to collect points
    * Opportunities to get BONUS points
    * Exclusive FREE gifts, sample and special offers
    * Regular Beauty Gossip emails packed with the latest beauty news, hot products and exclusives

And not forgetting the free brow wax at the Benefit Brow Bar that you get on your birthday!

The card is completely free, you just pick it up in store. Plus if it's not enough, when you sign up you get £5 worth of points to spend!

You get 3 points for every £1 you spend, but if you want to check the number of points for an item it's lists on the website by the 'Add to Bag' button.
1 point = 1p
So when you get 500 points that's converted to £5 to spend!

When I put that down I think, how on earth did I ever get to £5 to spend? But let me tell you, you can build up those points pretty quickly...well I seem to be able to anyway!
Since I joined last May I have got a total £25 off my orders by redeeming my points rewards. Plus I'm pretty sure that I have about another £10 to claim in rewards on my card this month.
And at the moment Debenhams currently have an offer where you get £5 worth of points when you spend £40...which I plan on taking advantage of.

(I usually post pictures of my new recruits on my instagram)

They have regular triple points deals and events where you can get £5 worth of points for spending a certain amount.
Plus they have weekly deals too, I got an Elizabeth Arden lipstick for £10 when it should have been £21.
And yes, it encouraged me to buy it, and on a whim, but it's a lipstick I really like now. And the packaging, woah!

Also the Debenhams customer service is top notch! They're quick to reply on twitter and by email and super helpful. If I have any issues I sort them out quickly by DMing them on twitter.
Plus their collect in store service is really quick and free and you also get free delivery with the Beauty Club.

I really can't rate Debenhams and their Beauty Card high enough.
I know that they don't stock everything and yes, you do have to go elsewhere to buy some brands, but if they sell it at Debenhams I'll always try and buy from there to get the points.

Basically, if you don't have one, then you should.

Do you guys have any beauty loyalty cards that you use and can recommend?

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post, I really just love this card THAT much!

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In my previous blog I touched on the idea of doing my own makeup for our wedding here and here.

As someone who had no clue about makeup 8 months ago, the challenge of learning how to do a whole face of makeup was overwhelming. I remember going to Boots and trying to look around the makeup counters, but something as basic as the idea of different finishes and shades of foundation had never occurred to me. I left, nearly in tears, terrified at what I'd got myself into.

When we got home, my future husband marched me back out the door and down to our local Debenhams with the intention of is going to the Bare Minerals counter (a random pick) to find out more. There was no one on the Bare Minerals counter, but an amazingly lovely lady from the Clinique counter helped me out, and that was the start of it.

I feel very proud of myself for how much I've learnt in such a short time and I think that I did a pretty damn good job of learning and doing my own makeup for the day. I was really happy how it turned out and even my husband, who hates makeup, said that he liked it. The best things are, now I have loads of gorgeous makeup (and I want more) and I've learnt a new skill!

I thought I would do a breakdown of the products that I used and then I might do a Youtube tutorial of the whole look. I'm playing with the idea of setting up a youtube to go with this blog and my instagram.

Prep

I starting getting ready near enough right out the shower, I'd already washed my face in the shower. I can't remember what face wash exactly, but I've been trying to use facewash with charcoal in it.

Once I was out I put on some Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel, and as Jaclyn Hill recommends, I left it for around 30 minutes before putting on any makeup (this was thrown on in the middle of having my hair done!)

.

Prime

A couple of sprays of Urban Decay All Nighter and then once that had dried I put on some Clinique Superprimer Face Primer in Universal.

Foundation

Clinique Superbalanced Makeup in Alabaster, I find that this isn't too heavy and only provides a light coverage, as my skin is generally quite good. It's also a really good colour match for me

Concealer

I borrow a little YSL Touche Eclat for under my eyes to brighten them, not sure on the shade, but I'm planning on getting my own so I'll at least know which shade is a match for me! I was planning on using Benefit Boi-ing in 01, but I find it a little too heavy for me, it tends to settle into my pores and crease under my eyes.

Powder

Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder, need I say more?

Bronzer

I used Bobbi Brown Bronzer in Golden Light in the hollows of my cheeks, my temples and jawling, dusting the remaining over my face. Then I used Benefit Hoola to deepen.

Blush

I used a combo of Bobbi Brown Blush in Desert Pink and NARS Dolce Vita (which I LOVE), I definitely packed on the blush to much more than I'd normally wear. It's the first thing that you loose from your makeup and I was a blushing bride after all.

Highlight

Mary-Lou Manizer by TheBalm on cheekbones, a little on my nose and to highlight my brow.

Brows

Maybelline Brow Satin in Medium Brown. Literally the only drug store makeup I still use (expect the odd cheap eyeliner or mascara), but so impressed with this, I'm not really up on my brows so I needed something simple but effective. Especially as brows are super important when in comes to makeup and then when you add glasses to the equation, even more important!

Also worth adding that a few days before I had my brows tinted and waxed at the Benefit Brow Bar, highly recommended!

Eye Primer

Urban Decay Primer Potion in Original, what else?

Eye Shadows

I wanted to create a warm and shimmery look, that wasn't too overpowering. I used the Urban Decay Naked Palette. I used Naked all over the lid then put a little of Buck in the crease. I then patted Toasted all over my eyelid and put a little of Hustle in the outer corner and pulled it into the crease to deepen the look and give it a little dimension. I didn't put anything on my lower lashline, as it tends to make my eyes water A LOT. Mary Lou-Manizer in the inner corners

Eyeliner

Teddy Khol liner by MAC, a loved bronzey, brown, shimmery eyeliner. I love, love LOVE this eyeliner. Perfect for my eye look.

Mascara

Benefit Roller Lash, several coats, wiping the brush before each coat.

Lip Liner

MAC Prolongwear Lip Pencil in In Control

Lipstick

MAC Matte Lipstick in Mehr. I don't like shiny lipsticks and I love MAC, so I knew it had to be a matte or satin finish. I knew I also didn't want to wear anything too pinky, as that's not really my style. With my statement dress, veil and flowers I needed something that didn't get lost. Mehr is quite a deep colour on me and nicely mirrored the colours running through my flowers.

Setting Spray

Urban Decay All Nighter again!

Brushes

I used primarily Real Techniques brushes, but also some Lamora eye brushes that I got as an Amazon freebee!

Mouisturiser and Primer - applied with fingers

Foundation - RT Expert Face Brush

Powder - RT Blush Brush

Bronze - RT Cheek Brush (from Nic's Picks Set)

Blush - RT Buffing Brush

Blend - RT Buffing Brush (a fresh one)

Highlight - RT Setting Brush (cheeks and nose) and Lamora Small Shader Brush for Brows and Inner Corners

Eyes - Primer with my ring fingers, RT Base Shadow Brush for matte base, Lamora Classic Shader Brush to pack on shadow to lid, RT Base Shadow Brush (from Nic's Picks) to deepen outer corner and crease, Lamora Blending Brush and RT Deluxe Crease Brush to blend.

Also let me add, by some TOTAL miracle, I didn't have any spots on my weddings day - winner!

I would encourage anyone who is thinking about doing their own makeup for their wedding to go for it, yes you have to invest some time and money, but it was so worth it and so rewarding. Plus I found it really calming on the day to go through the practised routine of putting on my makeup.

That's it then folks.

Keep your eyes peeled for this potential youtube tutorial. That's if I can work out how to film and then stand listening to my own voice whilst I edit.

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I recently got my first NYX Matte Lipstick, after umming and ahhing over which shade to get - Natural, Tea Rose, Whipped Caviar and Eurotrach - I settled on Whipped Caviar, it's something about the name.

Whenever I buy a non-MAC lipstick I find myself comparing it my beloved MAC lipsticks.
Whilst I like the Whipped Caviar shade, it's right up my street, I feel like the staying power of the NYX is lacking somewhat.
Whilst any lipstick I wear tends to come off a bit through out the day, hence my love to reapply, the MAC ones seem to fair better. But whichever lipstick, they do get put through their paces as I graze throughout the day and ingest my own volume in tea (I am an English gal after all!). The MAC lipsticks tend to stay on my mouth a bit more (instead of making weird smudges around my mouth from my tea cup) and maybe they stain my lips more or maybe they just stay more.
But I find that I can't reapply the NYX lipstick often enough, it really fades on my lips and it's just gone from the edges of my mouth.

For me, it's a bit of a deal breaker.

Looking at the NYX lipstick in the bullet, I also thought it looks like it contains less product than a MAC lipstick. However I had a quick look online and was shocked to find that it actually contains a whole 1.5g more than a MAC lipstick. But maybe this is outweighed by having to reapply...but as I said, I reapply A LOT anyway.

I know that the NYX lipstick is considerably cheaper, but it's my first cheapy lipstick in a while and I find the packaging to be so disappointing. I know that it's to be expected for the price, but the MAC ones are so sturdy and the click when the lid goes on...

I had a quick look and saw that a few people thought that MAC Faux and Twig were dupes for Whipped Caviar, as I also have both of those I thought I'd do a comparison. I also added Brave into the mix!

As you can see, Brave is certainly my favourite and has had quite a lot of wear!

L-R Brave, Faux, Twig, Whipped Caviar

I always find it so surprising how they can look so similar in the bullet and so different on skin/lips.
So none of them are the same, I'd say that Twig is quite a good dupe, followed by Brave, but Faux is quite different. But all of them could be very different paired with the right lip liner.

I'll definitely keep wearing (and constantly reapplying) Whipped Caviar, but I probably would repurchase or buy another NYX matte lipstick.
But don't hold me to that.

And the real question is, would I rather have 1 MAC lipstick or 3 NYX lipsticks? (Yes, I know it's like 2.4 NYX lipsticks, but we'll round up).
 I think what we've learn from this is that MAC definitely is my favourite...maybe to a slightly obsessive, adoring level.

What do you think of NYX lipsticks? Am I missing something? Or being too much of a makeup snob?

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It's been less than a week since we booked our trip to Toronto as our Honeymoon Part 2, and I've already been working on my makeup wishlist.
Ermmmmmm, who am I kidding? I had this list on the go before we'd even confirmed the trip!
And just in case you wondered, Honeymoon Part 1 was a week in Cape Verde, that was out relaxing part and now part 2 is our out and about Honeymoon!

There are two Sephora stores in Toronto, and whilst I know that the Canadian branches don't carry as much as the US ones, I am still DAMN excited to get there and give them my money.
I'm also hoping that we'll pop across the border to Buffalo, NY where I have found 3 Ulta stores...and we're going to Niagara Falls anyway, so hardly any distance more and totally justified?
Those LORAC Unzipped Palettes WILL be mine.

BECCA Afterglow Palette (@hippiesandlippies)

BECCA
Shimmering Skin Perfector
Now obviously Champagne Pop is first on my list, my GOD do I want to get my grubby little paws on that! I'd like to swatch some of the others before I buy them to decide which I like the most. Maybe Opal or Moonstone? It definitely needs to be one for pale skin to suit my ghost like complexion.
And then do I go pressed or poured? Someone help me with all these questions!!
Under Eye Brightening Corrector
After Glow Palette

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette (@hippiesandlippies)

Hourglass
Ambient Lighting Palette
Ambient Lighting Powder
Same as with the BECCA products, I'd like to swatch these first, but I'm thinking that the palette is a good start and maybe one (or two) more shades. These are all SO MUCH cheaper than in the UK!

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick (@hippiesandlippies)

Kat Von D
Everlasting Liquid Lipstick
I'm stuck between a few different options and to make things worse I've never used a liquid lipstick before! But I have just ordered a NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream to try out. I'm thinking Lovesick or Double Dare or do I go for the cult classics Lolita or Lolita II?

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush (@hippiesandlippies)

Tarte
Tartiest Lip Paint
For someone who's never used a liquid lipstick before, I do love 'em! Fomo or TBT?
Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush
I WANT NOW!! I am so excited to be able to get some of these bad boys! My wishlist here is pretty long, but I feel that Blushing Bride, Dollface and Dazzled are a must and then I might pick a few from Charisma, Captivating, Blissful, Gilsten, Fearless and Exposed.

LORAC Unzipped Palette (@hippiesandlippies)

LORAC (from Ulta in the US)
Unzipped Palette
Unzipped Gold Palette
These are one of the top items on my list. They are so amazingly pretty.

Too Faced Love Flush Blush Long Lasting 16-Hour Blush Wardrobe (@hippiesandlippies)

Too Faced
Love Flush Blush Long Lasting 16-Hour Blush Wardrobe
We do have Too Faced in the UK, but not this blush set. And I'm really feeling the need to expand my blush collection.

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I started this blog because I felt that my old blog was unused, uncared for and I was dragged a load of old posts around as the blog changed from a food blog to a planning/stationary blog to me sporadically posting about any old thing.

However, there are a few posts worth mentioning and I'll probably be carrying some of them on or developing on them.

30 Before 30
30 Before 30
30 Before 30: Behind the List, Part 1
30 Before 30: Behind the List, Part 2
30 Before 30: Behind the List, Part 3
30 Before 30: An Update


Wedding Posts
Wedding Dress Shopping: An Uphill Struggle
Wedding Dress Shopping: Mark 1
Wedding Dress Shopping: Mark 2
10 Months To Go Posts:
The Date is Set
Vendors
Outfits
Beauty
Food & Drink
Finishing Touches
Wedding Dress Shopping: Finding THE Dress
Lucky Sixpence
Wedding Make Up: Professional vs. DIY
Wedding Make Up: The First Steps of DIY


Personal Posts
Happy Valentine's Day
Happy Birthday Daddy

Farewell to The Kentish Kitchen

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Welcome to mrsjennyws!

We're at the start of 2016, everything's new and fresh and for me that includes my marriage and my name! I'm Jenny or mrsjws. My full name is now ridiculously long since I got married and so I won't bore you.

Currently
I'm 26 and I live with my husband, we got married last year in December and moved into our new flat (that we own) a mere week before the wedding! Let me just say, I would not recommend moving house AND getting married at the same time.

Background
I'm from Kent originally, after school I went to uni in Exeter and studied Biology. After that I moved back east and lived with some amazing school friends and now I'm stuck with my husband (only joking). I work in admin, also known as the place where you get stuck if you don't know what to do with yourself!

Passions/Hobbies
My passions include makeup, Harry Potter, McFly/Busted/McBusted (in any form). I also love Taylor Swift and TV, but who doesn't? I also love Weddings, love them. Oh and musical theatre, Les Mis in particular.

My makeup obsession is a relatively new one, it started in May 2015 when mrws suggested that I do my makeup myself for our wedding. Now we're talking to a girl who has zero experience in the makeup department. We're talking a few months of wearing makeup for the first time at uni and reverting to wearing eyeliner and mascara. But fast foward 8 months and I love it, I feel like my wedding makeup ended up looking really good and my collection and knowledge is growing.

Harry Potter is what got me reading. I remember sitting in the library in my primary school and seeing someone reading Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets. I thought it was for boys, a book that's named after a boy with a blue car on the front - what was in there for a 9 year old girl? I'm not sure how, but by the time I was 10 I remember reading the very same book whilst on a school trip to France. And that was it, no going back. I grew up with Harry, he was my age, the final book came out when I finished secondary school. The film actors are the same age as me, it's my generation. I can't tell you what it means to me, it's something hugely special.

Onto Busted, then McFly, then McBusted and now back to Busted and McFly. My favourite bands. I loved Busted wholeheartedly, I cried when they split up. The silver lining was that they had introduced me to McFly who I loved just as much. McFly carried on, then they added James and Matt from Busted and McBusted were formed, I cried seeing them all on stage together. Then on 10th November 2015, Busted announced their reform, I cried again. I've loved all of them since it all started in 2000, we're talking 16 years of love there. I've met McFly several times, they represent me growing up, my teenage years and then transition into adulthood. I've yet to meet a member of Busted, when (not if) I do , I'll cry. I'm going to see them in May on the first date of their tour, I'm pretty sure I'll cry.

So that's me. And as you will see as time goes on, I ramble, that's why this is so long.

Happy to have you here with me
Love mrsjws
xxx