Mothers Day with Avon

This is not a sponsored post. 

Mothers Day - March 6th 2016! 

I was cruising through the Avon catalogue at my mother in laws and was chatting about how underrated Avon is. I rarely buy from Avon but have received lots of nice presents that are from Avon. I think it's the buying system that throws me. However, after looking through the catalogue I am thinking that my Mother's Day present will be purchased from Avon this year! For reference, I have used the Avon guide below :

 

There was also a sale guide that came with it which I have used. Excuse the hokey pictures, they were snapped from the magazine. I will show the clearance items below :

First thing I saw was this cute oversized mug. Pop some hot chocolate and marshmallows inside and you have a sweet (gettit!) inexpensive gift! 

I then saw this Lipsy rose gold satchel bag. I think this would be great for summer and would be a great gift for fashionista mums! This looks like a dress up or down style that would pop against any outfit! 

Lastly in the sale section, I saw this nail selection box, I'm guessing this was originally an advent Christmas present, but I think it still really stands as a general present as it doesn't have a particularly festive vibe. Many of these are the gel formula which I have on good authority lasts well, perfect for hardworking mum hands!   

So onto the regular items! What would Avon be without the fragranced pages, and after smelling this I was quite tempted! Avon Dreams describes itself as "... Dreamy notes of sweet plum, lucious  rose and patchouli". It's a sweet but delicate and very feminine fragrance and you can get the body spray, body lotion and eau de perfume for £12! Bargain!

I liked this double frame as a present, which I would not have thought was Avon, a shabby chic style with rose gold details! Perfection at £8! And I can already see it in my sisters house! 

I thought I would show this watch as it has a classic but contemporary style and what mum isn't permanently keeping an eye on the clock! The charms signify wish, dream love and the gold, rose and silver tones mean it will match any outfit! Currently £25 but reduces to £10 when certain cosmetics are bought alongside it, so maybe you get to get a little something something too! 

Lastly, I just had to include this, as we know #sophiewantsmac, well apparently Avon heard my call and ... 

If Avon are putting themselves in the same league as MAC then this mama is interested! And I know I would be happy to receive one or two of these as a present! Hint hint ...

Mother's Day is still a month away but I thought I would give a little head start. I hope this has been helpful! Let me know what you think or if you have any ideas! 

What's in my make up bag :

After yesterday's heavy post I thought I would lighten the mood with a what's in my make up bag post, as I really like reading other bloggers make up bag posts. I'm simple like that!

There is a lot of No. 7 in here as, just prior to returning to work I decided that I should be more grown up as I am a mother (? Blame it on the hormones not settling yet!) and so I bought some grown up makeup! It was also on a 3 for 2 day at Boots, with a combo of a voucher and boots card voucher I ended up paying around £13 for the lot! Madness!

My actual make up bag is by Happy Jackson and was a birthday present from my sister, to which I'm now obsessed with the brand as they all have cute little sayings, so this has 'Kiss + make up' on the front. It's a small/medium size so you can pack a fair bit in but don't end up lugging Boots around with you! 

I have a set of Real Techniques brushes that I bought on sale in Asda after Christmas, it's a basic set but a good starting point for building up a decent brush collection. I use the foundation brush for concealer as I don't really use foundation on a day to day basis, I would love to say it's because I have good skin but really I think it's because I'm lazy! The set also has a lovely eyeshadow brush, no guesses what I use that for! And a powder brush which I use for bronzer as it gives a good dusting without caking it on!

Next is my No. 7 Creme Touch powder, I have combination skin and can get a bit oily this isn't the most exciting thing in the world but it balanced me and looks fresh and clean. I like to think that sometimes things not being exciting and just doing what they are supposed to is really refreshing! 

The other powder is my beautiful No. 7 Shimmer Pallet bronzer compact, in the most beautiful rose gold case with a honking great mirror to boot! It's one of those with strips of gold, rose gold and more of a brown, packed with shimmer but not so much that you look like a disco ball! It goes on well and really lasts. I've also been known to use individual shades as a summery eyeshadow.

I thought I'd group my eye bits together. First up, the No. 7 Extravagant Volume mascara, I had been a die hard fan of They're Real by Benefit, but I was getting itchy feet so I thought I'd give this a crack. Boy am I glad! I think you get the same result of thick, long and well defined lashes, but you can actually get it off! And it's much less clumpy. I would really recommend it.

I also have two of the No. 7 Stay Precise liquid eyeliners, in black and chain mail (like a gunmetal grey). These eyeliners area great formulas, runny enough to shape how you want, quick drying and they last. I especially love the brush as its long, fine stands rather than a rubber of foam point, I find this offers more control and definition.

Lastly, the No. 7 ( told you there was lots!) Beautiful Eyebrows Sculpting Pencil. The pencil has the little twirly comb on one end and a triangular shaped pencil the other which I presume is to mimic the natural hair shape. The formula is just the right amount of waxy and has a good hold and a natural finish, I feel made up but not Towie made up!

Both Natural Collection items are concealers. I really like the formula they use, they are cheap and cheerful but they work and the fair shade is actually fair which is more than I can say for lots of other brands out there! 

The blush is Bourjois (seriously - does anyone know how to pronounce this without feeling like a twat) is cream to powder and is a nice subtle colour, an English rose. I got this as part of a beauty box (the Glamour one maybe?) and I am happy with it. I do prefer Benefit's Coralista but it's a ball ache to carry around where as this is lovely and compact. 

Lastly is this little gem. I wouldn't have normally owned an Avon pallet but again, my sister bought it for me! It's a perfect little pallet, small enough to take up no space and the shades can do a petty neutral or a smokey eye! It gives good colour payout with minimal fallout. I really have no complaints except that I put off using it as I was being snobby about Avon, shame on me!

I hope you have enjoyed the post, pre Tom, I used to love makeup and would have had lots more, but these days it's a much simpler life! 

Let me know your go to staples!