This lipstick
Collection Matte Liquid Lip Paint in Hustler, £4.99, here
Look, I know it's all about glazed, glossy lips now and I'm stuck in a 2015 timewarp, but I refuse to move on from my love of matte lipstick. Especially matte liquid lipstick in that ever pleasing shade of cool nude pink we collectively lost our shit over when Kris decided it was time for the world to welcome Kylie's Lip Kit.
There are now a-million-and-one to choose from and it's still a risky business -- I love the appearance of matte lipstick but the wrong formulation can look horrendous. And I can't spend £28 to find out.
This little gem from Collection is less than a fiver in Superdrug (and currently £2.50 here!) and goes on like a dream. I went for Hustler, which is just the pink I desire. This isn't one of those lipsticks that stays saturated all day - you need to reapply, but I think this is why it's a lovely smoothing, non-drying formula.
This perfume
Police Dark Pour Femme, £11.95 here
My quest to find a cheap, daytime perfume that smells expensive continues. After spending hours researching scents with iris notes (my current obsession), I came across lots of rave reviews of this one by Police. Yes, Police. Such a random brand that I didn't really know existed beyond sunglasses and Semi-Chem. Anyway, for less than £20 I stuck it on my birthday list to give it a go.
It's definitely the vibe I was looking for; powdery iris and violets, with that childhood Barbie doll smell underneath. It's very like Iris Goddess by Floral Street, which I adore, with less depth. Sadly, the longevity on Dark Pour Femme is woeful. I can't smell it past the first blast and find it disappears on my skin very quickly, lasting a little longer on clothes. At this price point, it's not devastating as you can spray with abandon and carry it with you but I don't think I will repurchase. I might try some hacks to make it last longer - any tips?
These Shoes
Studded Buckle Flat, £39.50, Marks and Spencer
You can tell when it's been my birthday because I have actual new stuff to talk about. I came across these while browsing for something to spend a voucher on - they were an instant add to basket. I find red too much for me in terms of clothes but love it for accessories - gives a little French vibe, non?
I also liked the studs as they add some necessary edge to a shoe that could otherwise creep into twee territory, ya know?
This app
I have spoken of my love for self-development personality quizzes before and this app is the absolute GOAT. You answer a series of questions within different sections and are presented with a host of insights about what makes you tick and why.
It has cleverly made all the summaries really snappy and shareable. These feel spot on for me.
It's so intuitive, has a chic aesthetic, and a clever gamification method of extracting your answers. Plus, the majority of content and features are FREE. We all know what this means, right? If something really good is completely free, it's YOU who's the product. So I have no doubt my deepest darkest answers are now locked into a Google cloud somewhere feeding an AI robot who will be Prime Minister by 2027.
These jeans
H&M Wide High Cropped Jeans in Dark Denim Blue, £27.99, H&M
I bought a few bits from H&M because it's still my go-to at the moment and these jeans have quickly become my new favourite pair. I always opt for cropped as I'm quite short and prefer how they hang - it's never the same when you shorten the legs of full length jeans. I also think with a wide leg, the cropped style is so much easier to wear; no flappy, soggy hems (why does this sound like a Bake Off meme).
Sidenote: I also bought the matching shirt but haven't worn them together yet.
I hope my little round up has proved helpful; perhaps even for the dreaded Christmas shopping (or is it just me who hates doing it…?).
Please share your current obsessions in the comments - I'd love some inspiration!