USA Beauty Haul

During half term I took a trip to New York and Boston.  Over the past few years I've got to know America quite well - I say that, there are 50 states and I have spent a considerable amount of time in just 7 of them!  I'm hugely fond of the country, but before this October, I'd never been to New York or Massachusetts (and so now my state total rises to 9...)  I had a fair amount of air miles to use up (I used to travel to the US every six weeks or so!) so I thought why not visit a couple of cities I'd heard so much about but never set foot in?  Everybody I asked said New York is a wonderful city and that I'd love Boston because 'it's so English' - but having summered in California, and fallen head over heels in love with San Francisco whilst I was there, I was a little sceptical as to whether NYC could really be what everyone seems to portray as America's greatest city.  Don't get me wrong, I had a ball there and I can see that it truly is a fabulous city - I did the Frick, the Met, the American Museum of Natural History, MoMA, the Statue of Liberty, the Top of the Rock and Central Park; I went to a Broadway show and an Off-Broadway show; and I spent a good few hours shopping in the likes of Madison and 5th Avenues (particularly Sephora).  I even saw the President himself (well, his car, but he was definitely in it) and ate a good few Shack Burgers at Shake Shack.  But, and I sort of hate to say it, I'm afraid I left my heart in San Francisco last October - the weather, the sushi, the hills, the laid-back nature of the Californians...

This post, though is not about my love for all things Cali, but really about the lovely new make up I picked up whilst I was out there!  Every time I saw a Sephora I had to pop in (and I explored a store new to me, Duane Reade - a CVS/Walgreens-esque store that seems to be specific to New York from my experience).  This is everything I bought of a beauty-related nature...

From L-R: Too Faced Bronzer in Sun Bunny, Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick in Porcelain, various nail polishes (see below), Wet'n'Wild Eye Palette, Tarte Bronzer in Buff, Too Faced Eye Palette in Natural Eye, Sephora eyelash curler, Too Faced brush, Too Faced 3 Way Eyeliner and Sephora false eyelash applicator

Polishes from L-R, top to bottom: OPI Bastille My Heart, Forever 21 Aqua, Butter London Petrol, Forever 21 Safari, Milani Gold, Milani Red, Milani Teal

I can't wait to try out these gorgeous Milani glitters - I've seen them swatched before so when I saw them in person (for about $4.29/bottle) I couldn't resist getting a few that will be perfect for Christmas!  I got the OPI polish after I'd had a manicure with it at Lauren's Nails in Beacon Hill, Boston and it's such a beautiful autumnal colour.  I'd been coveting the Butter London Petrol polish for a while since their holiday collection had been announced - it's a fun polish and it really looks like petrol on.  Look out for swatches soon.

I'll be doing more in-depth posts about all the bits and bobs I bought over the coming weeks, so keep an eye out for them!

(Here's my favourite photo from my trip - isn't the Lady looking beautiful here?)