Stuff and Junk

Today I got paid. So, you know, things were bought and whatnot. And of course, everyone needs to know what I bought. For science.

Firstly, I got myself a mug for J’s house.

Yeah, I know this isn’t exactly a groundbreaking purchase. But in J’s house, each of his housemates’ OHs have gradually acquired their own mugs and bathrobes. Even though I’m the OH that’s been around the longest, I’ve been one of the last to get a mug. It’s a disgrace! So I bought this pretty pink stripy one in Home Store & More so that the boys won’t be tempted to use it when I’m not there. Or at least, that’s the plan…

This morning once my wages hit my bank account, I ran out to replace my dwindling supply of La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo. But things didn’t go exactly as I’d expected.

Apologies for the crappy photographs, there is no good light in J’s house.
Anyway, as it turned out, La Roche-Posay are currently running an offer where one can buy the Effaclar Duo+ and the Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel for a mere €20. Considering that the Duo+ was €17.50 by itself, and the cleanser normally costs €14.50, that is ridiculously good value if you’re a fan of the Effaclar range. Considering that the brand don’t often do promos of any kind, I thought it would be rude to say no. I essentially bought a huge 200ml tube of good quality cleanser that I will actually use, for something like€2.50. As you probably know, I am really not in need of any more skincare products as it is, but the offer was too good to turn down.
The cleanser is formulated for oil-yet-sensitive skin, and contains no nasties such as soap, colourants, alcohol or parabens. It does however, contain thermal spring water (a tiny can of which I bought last week; like selling sand to an Arabian but for €4, who cares?). Essentially it cleanses oily-spotty skin without stripping it of moisture. Yes, please.
I bought the Effaclar Duo+ as opposed to my usual Effaclar Duo in an effort to rid myself of the horrible pigmented acne scars I’ve been cursed with. It apparently performs all of the sebum-fighting properties of the original Duo while also correcting the appearance of scarring and evening skin texture with ‘anti-red and brown marks efficacy’, using a patented ceramide called Procerad. I love Effaclar Duo, it’s a product that I trust to work. Scars are yet another skin problem I’m trying to deal with, so the Duo+ is absolutely worth a shot.

So far, I’ve been loving my Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water. For a budget option, it’s brilliant, and has often been compared to the likes of Bioderma and Taaj micellar waters. But on the odd occasion that I wear a very smokey eye, I find that it doesn’t quite remove every scrap of eyeliner. Enter another Garnier buy:

A friend recommended the Garnier Simply Essentials Soothing 2in1 Make-Up Remover, and I picked it up in Tesco for less than €3 (on offer). Not all Garnier stockists store both this and the micellar water, but both are still widely available. This product combines  a cleansing oil with a cleansing water to remove make-up gently and efficiently, without irritating sensitive skin. It contains plant extracts and Vitamin B5, and is also perfume and alcohol-free. Sounds great to me. I won’t use it all over my face as I try to avoid oil-based skin products, but I’m happy to use it around my more delicate eye area. I haven’t used it yet, but even if it’s not too amazing at least I haven’t paid a fortune for it.

Next up is possibly the most boring of beauty products one can buy; Rimmel’s Stay Matte Long Lasting Pressed Powder in Transparent.

I usually keep one pressed powder in my handbag and one in my make-up bag, but I broke the pan of the one in my make-up bag by dropping its entire contents on the floor, so I needed a new one. And that’s all there is to it. It will do until I can somehow afford the NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Powder in Translucent Crystal…

Finally, the most exciting part of my day…

… I got a clavicut!
I’ve been toying with the idea of cutting my hair for a while, so today I just bit the bullet and made an appointment in Peter Mark in Carlow. Peter Mark  gets a bad rap in Ireland, often related to poor highlight jobs and scissor-happy stylists. But I’ve visited their Carlow branch three times in the last year and have always left happy. The stylists there really listen to me, and today in particular, my stylist seemed to appreciate that I walked in knowing exactly what I wanted. In fact, I had to convince him to take another half an inch off the length; unheard of in hairdressing lore! I am now the proud owner of a swishy, light and bouncy shoulder-length cut. And the best part is that, because I requested a wavy blowdry, I don’t need to worry about how far my hair will ‘bounce up’ when I wash it again (as is often the case when I have it straightened). My stylist even complimented the condition and DIY colour of my hair, which is always a lovely thing to hear. I feel very grown-up and sophisticated with this new ‘do, and my head feels sooo much lighter with about four inches of hair gone!

Today has been pretty successful, I think! What are your favourite payday treats?

Em xx

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