UK Beauty Bits : The Unattainable

As a dedicated Anglophile, my love of all things British doesn't stop at Prince George and scones. The UK is home of some of the best drugstore makeup there is, a lot of which is impossible (or impossibly expensive) to get here in the USA. 

Because I'm a complete madwoman when it comes to my UK shopping, I already have a must-buy beauty list saved on my computer, waiting impatiently to be thrown into action. 

Your day will come, lovely list. 

In the meantime, I thought I'd share some of my cravings with you! If you frequent UK beauty blogs you'll probably recognize most of these, and if you ARE a UK beauty blogger with a big heart... well... I will reward you handsomely for your easy access to Superdrug.

COMPLEXION

  Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot Powder - £12 / Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer - £7.49 / 

Hydraluron Moisture Booster - £16.66 / Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer - £4.19

NAILS

 Barry M Gelly Nail Paint (in Lychee and Grapefruit) - £3.99 / Barry M Gold Foil Nail Effects - £3.99 /  

Bourjois 1 Seconde Nail Enamel (20 Perle Illusion, 03 Beige Distinction, and 04 Taupe Classy) - £5.99

COLOUR

 Bourjois Little Round Pot Cream Blush (03 Rose Tender) - £7.99 / MUA Undress Me Too Palette - £4

That MUA palette... I mean, come on. And Hydraluron seems to be the newest must-have for gorgeous skin- ugh, deprived dull-skinned me. Any international beauty bits you're craving? What are your favorites?

xoxo, Molly

Exciting News!

Hello all! 

I am SO, SO, SO excited to share with y'all that I was lucky enough to be chosen by the lovely Dianna to intern for The Budget Babe! I've been such a huge fan of Dianna's for years now, and I feel incredibly honored to work and learn from her. 

I can't wait to share what I work on with you, and make sure to check out the rest of what The Budget Babe has to offer! 

xoxo, Molly

Lips on Lock

Since Prada's Resort 2012 collection, Lip prints have been big on my mind. As a girl who mostly sticks to neutrals (totally plain ones, at that), the pink-and-red kiss-speckled print SHOULD be totally out of my comfort zone... but for some inexplicable reason, I'm obsessed.

Here are a few of my favorites floating around the internet:

H&M iPhone 4/4s Case / Forever 21 Retro Lips Phone Case / ModCloth Seal It With a Kiss Ring / Solange Azagury-Partridge Hot Lips Ring /
 Kismet Rose Gold Diamond Lips Necklace / Lulu Guinness Persplex Lips Clutch / Carvela Gardinia Lips Print Wedge / 
Erin Featherston Carraway Blouse / Erin Featherston Marianne Dress / Erin Featherston Patricia Pant

As a crazy-broke post-collegiate, a lot of these are (obviously) way out of my price range. If I could live the dream, I would literally scoop up ALL of Lulu Guinness' website-- she is, undoubtedly, the Queen of Lips. Lulu does have an adorable and affordable diffusion line at JC Penny's, where you can grab Anglo-themed totes and accessories. Of course, her signature kiss has to make an appearance-- how cute is this belt?!

And yeah, whatever, I HAD to include the entire Erin by Erin Featherston Lipstick-Print Collection (well, almost-- there's also this adorable dress). I remember seeing the Marianne Dress in a shop window back in Boston and it literally stopped me in the middle of the sidewalk... and then I got crashed into by a bunch of angry Bostonians, but it was totally worth it. In case you, like me, still don't want to fork over the cash for these amazeballs pieces-- even though they're all on CRAZY sale right now!!-- the incredibly talented Maegan (yes, that Maegan. ...love, Maegan Maegan) whipped up a perfect DIY version of Erin's Patricia Pants. And so easy!

And a couple more of my faves... this cute Paul & Joe tank (on sale!),  ridiculously chic DVF Blazer (on sale!), cozy ASOS Curve sweater, and fun Forever 21 Sweatshirt!

Are you as crazy for kisses as I am? What are some of your Lip-Loves?

xoxo, Molly

Another Impractical Gorgeous Heel

Just spotted these on The Real Real- an amaaaaaazing designer resale site- this morning and I HAD to share. Aren't these incredible? I'm really thinking of nabbing them... totally impractical, but aren't those the most fun?

ASOS Wishlist #1

I have a major weakness for ASOS. Like, MAY-JOR major. My Saved Items page is embarrassingly long, and I religiously check the new arrivals every morning. Needless to say, I spend a good chunk of change (and time) on ASOS finds, so in an effort to ease the temptation, I thought I'd share this week's most loved with you!

ASOS Skater Dress in Leather Look  -  Leather and I have a longstanding love affair. After spotting Lauren in this gorgeous DVF dress, I can't stop thinking about nabbing one for myself. I also love that this is vegan leather-- cruelty-free and maybe a little more breathable?

ASOS Azora Chelsea Ankle Boots - Like everyone and their mother, I die for Isabel Marant's Dickers, but those are a bit out of reach right now... not to mention, sold out practically everywhere. I love the aged look of these babies, and they look like they'll go with everything.

Lavish Alice Skater Dress - I'm a sucker for a good LWD and I'm loving the lines on this one. I'm thinking it'll be perfect for winter!

ASOS Apollo Studded Ankle Boots - These remind me of these Gucci heels that I've loved for ages, but better for my wallet, and a boot is a bit more sensible than a sky-high heeled sandal.

ASOS Boudoir Lace Demi Cup Bra - Reminds me of a bra my beloved Gemma Arterton sported for a GQ spread a couple years ago. The delicate lace and edgy straps above the cups will be so fun and feminine peeking out of a slouchy tee.

Modalu Kirsten Satchel Bag - Pippa Middleton is a fan of Modalu. Enough said.

A Question Of Tee - I don't know any boys, nor do I know how to make them cry with my kisses, but this cheeky graphic tee will make me feel like the most popular middle school girl ever.

Lulu Guinness Coin Purse - Oh, Lulu. The things you do to me. Woman knows the way to my heart, which is a red patent-leather lip-shaped coin purse.

ASOS Pixel Heels - With a BFA now under my belt, I've got to get serious about the job hunt. I think these are an edgy, flirty take on the innocent Mary Jane, and perfect for any interview or office.

So that's it! Do you love ASOS as much as I do? What have you got saved in your cart?

xoxo, Molly

Spending Freeze Temptations

For now, I am not allowed, under any circumstances, to spend a single cent. This is incredibly painful and saddening, but it must be done. To help ease the heartache (or just to share my misery with others) I rounded up a few of the lovely things that are tempting me the most on this snowy morning.

French Connection Hawaiian print dress / Topshop Boutique rouched dress / Queens Guard Mug / 
Dior Gel Top Coat  / Forever 21 pointed flat shoes / Topshop Lipstick Print Headwrap / 
Lipstick queen invisible liner / French Connection Sequined Bulldog Tee 

 What's struck your fancy today? 

xxoo, Molly

Grad Garb : The Hunt for the Perfect Dress

I haven't been all that excited for my upcoming college graduation in May... until I realized it was the perfect excuse to buy a new dress. Pathetic? Absolutely. Excited? Definitely.

Luckily I only have about thirteen dollars in my bank account right now (not lying), so I haven't had the opportunity to impulse buy. Instead, I spent a ridiculous amount of time browsing online and collecting dresses that might fit the bill.

It's important that I (try) to remember the 12 May date, which is a struggle because I usually gravitate towards dark colours and heavy fabrics... not gonna fly in warm weather. I also want to make sure I buy a dress I'll get a lot of use out of for years to come-- so I'm mainly looking at higher-priced pieces in hopes they'll go on sale in a month or two. Ideally, I don't want to spend more than $200, buuuuut I've never been too good at following rules.

The printed Acne dress it tooootally not my usual style, but I spotted it in the last Net-a-Porter sale and fell inexplicably in love with it. When I spotted it again on the Outnet, I couldn't help but think it might be perfect.  

As for the cream lace Mulberry, well... you all know the intense relationship I have with Mulberry. This dress is certainly the most versatile of the lot-- I can even throw a sweater over it and wear it in the winter. And the belt? That's like a free gift with purchase.

Alice Temperley is another one of my designer crushes, and I can't get over the cuteness of this cheetah print dress. I think the neckline and snipped-in waist will be super flattering, and the jacquard fabric just looks so expensive and girly.

I saw this colorblocked Mara Hoffman on Emily from Cupcakes and Cashmere a couple days ago and promptly died. I'm absolutely terrified of the side cut-outs (I'm a size 10, so I'm not sure if they will be flattering), but the pink-and-red colorblocking and midi peg skirt are insane. I've been dying to try a pink and red ensemble since Emma Stone wore that incredible Giambattista Valli get-up.

I think the printed See by Chloe dress is my favorite of the bunch. I don't have a lot of printed things in my closet, but this instantly caught my eye. I absolutely love the soft v-neck and the draping at the waist, but the fact that this dress is jersey sealed its place in my heart. Bright, different, AND comfy? Sign me up.

My hopes are that some (or all, whateva) of these gorgeous dresses will go on sale soon and I'll be able to grab one to wear to graduation. Of course, that means I have to put my credit card away for a while in order to save up, but... well, I'll try. I also set up a Pinterest board to keep track of my favorites, and you'll find a few more of my picks there.

Which is your favorite? Have you spotted a gorgeous dress you think I should add? Help me choose!

xxoo, Molly