March Musts

Must Watch - Pretty Little Liars

OK so we are really behind so don't you dare comment a spoiler! We only just discovered this series this month and are completely hooked (as if we needed another excuse to spend our  lives in our pjs watching Netflix). March was the month of the big reveal, where everyone found out who A is so it only seemed right to make Pretty Little Liars the must watch of this month.

Must Read - None of the Above

The media seems to be absolutely obsessed with reporting negatively about the younger generation when it comes to voting. As the general election approaches its becoming more important to address this. Rick Edwards explains both the need to vote, and how to know who to vote for in a way that's easy for everyone to understand. There's no shame in not understanding politics (does anyone really understand it?), but this doesn't mean you can't make an effort to engage in it. Your vote matters, and if you don't think it does then you definitely need to give this a read. 

Must Use - Clinique Take The Day Off 

Now this we are a little embarrassed about. Most bloggers have probably been using this kind of product for years, and were totally aware of why it is so essential. But we weren't. Before, we would use make up wipes, face washes, water, cleanser, toner.... the lot - but none of this. Clinique's Take The Day Off Cleansing Oil takes off all traces of make-up and oil and leaves our faces so fresh and clean. Who knew we were potentially leaving so much crap on our faces?! At £22.00 a bottle it is a bargain, you use one squirt each time and it seems as if its lasting a lifetime. Perfect for both of our skin types and so lightweight on our faces - the best addition to our skincare regime. 

Must Eat - Shredded Wheat Nests 

Why Mini Eggs are only around at Easter is beyond us. We like to eat as many as possible before they are off the shelves and these nests are the perfect opportunity to do just that. These cakes just say Spring and are a great way to break those Summer diets that everyone is starting. Find the recipe here. 

Must Buy - Activewear 

The weather has definitely brightened up and everyone's starting to get on that health hype (seriously is all people can talk about dieting?). With brighter weather there are becoming less excuses to not work out. If you're going to do it then you may as well do it in style. Buying workout clothes is a great motivator, and lets face it getting on the move is better than the low calorie diet that people alternatively choose. 

Must Wear - Zara Skinny Jeans 

Anyone else sick of the Topshop Joni/MOTO/Leigh/Jamie jeans? Yep, us too. They fade within a few washes, they don't fit all shapes and most importantly - they don't even feel like jeans. We are a nation of followers, and unfortunately we always fall for the price tag. We think that if something is more expensive, we are getting better quality. This is not true. To us, Topshop's jeans feel similar to jeggins. Have you ever worn Joni jeans on really cold day? Useless. The cold goes straight through them. We have found the perfect range of jeans in Zara - so many types, so many colours and all around the £23-£30 mark! Granted, Zara aren't great for their organisation is stores, so it's likely you will have to take a long look around to find different ones, but it is so so worth it. Comfortable, flattering and above all, actual jeans!

Must Go - To A Restaurant You've Never Been to Before 

If you're regular readers of your blog you will know this has been our March obsession. We have spent far too much money eating out this month (explains why we haven't made our current loan last until our next), but it's been the best idea we have had. There's just something about Spring that makes you think of a fresh start, and to do that you have to try things that are different. We are such creatures of habit when it comes to food, so break it and trust us you will not regret the good food that you will enjoy as a result. 

Best Budget Buys

Is it just us or do all bloggers seem to be rich? Don't get us wrong we are guilty of splashing out, but is it always necessary? As much as we would love to, we can't always afford to buy the best of everything, and actually don't believe that you always have to spend a fortune to get a good quality product.

To make your living on a budget easy, we've got our favourite budget buys that will make it feel like you haven't had to make a compromise.

Obviously everyone has a different interpretation of 'budget', so there's a mixture of cheap, a bit of a treat and products that only really seem good value when you compare them to their up market versions. 

First up is the Pro Formula make up Wipes from Tesco (£2). We have no idea why make up wipes are so expensive but most are on average around £3, ouch! These wipes are cleansing wipes with Green Tea and Vitamin E and are one of the only range of wipes that actually leave our skin feeling clean. They have a fresh smell, not fragranced like most, and are perfect for sensitive skin and removing impurities. 

                   

Contouring has gone absolutely crazy in the Blogger world, and so many paint it to be a pretty pricey task. This kit by Sleek comes in at £6.50, which is relatively cheap in comparison to so many on the market. The shadow side is a perfect matte, and can be built up to achieve the level of darkness that you desire. The highlight then has the perfect shimmer, and again starts relatively light, allowing you to create the right build up for the look you want to achieve. 

Some of the face masks currently popular are extortionate. £45 for a tiny bottle!? Even if it's a miracle worker not many of us can justify spending that much on a mask, so here's an alternative. The Mudd range are such trusty products, and buying the masks in bulk is much cheaper than buying the individual packets. While this one does not appear to be on the market currently, the same product is available in different packaging. You can get 10 masks for £3.99 at Fragrance Direct http://www.fragrancedirect.co.uk/mudd/mudd-original-mask-100ml/invt/0043442. 

The product is heavy, and thick leaving your skin completely revitalised and cleansed after just 10-15 minutes. Perfect little weekly pick-me-up for you skin. 

It's such a common perception that the most expensive perfume is best. We have a large proportion of the Marc Jacobs range (and don't get us wrong, we love it), but it does feel pretty pricey to be wearing everyday. We like to have a less expensive perfume for everyday wear, and the Zara range is absolutely perfect. Starting at £9.99 the price allows for a quality product that lasts, and smells absolutely amazing. 

With Benefits release of a new mascara, the hype around expensive mascara is pretty high. We absolutely love Benefit mascara, but like to have cheaper alternatives that we can combine. Here are two options depending on how much you need to budget. 

On the left is Bourjois Paris Volume Glam Ultra Curl mascara. At £7.99 (in Boots) its not too cheap, but in comparison to the Benefit ones it really is a budget one! It really work and elongates eyelashes, the brush is not too bold and stumpy and allows for build-up with each stroke. Great for everyday make-up or to use on top of others. 

On the right is Collection 2000 Volumising mascara, and at just £3.99 (currently on offer, £2.99 at Boots). This mascara perfectly separates lashes and really does create good volume. This is an absolute essential if you're on a budget. 

Above are Boots Botanics Day and Night Creams. The Botanics selection comes in six different ranges, all designed for different skin types and vary in price. Kirsti is currently using the Radiant Youth range, which is typically for women looking to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Recently, her skin became stressed and appeared run-down so she tried this range and it has really improved the quality of her skin. Previously, she's used the Organic range which is best for all skin types, so if you aren't specific or suffering from anything it's a good place to start!

Boots Botanics are a great range to use and their products can be used by all different skin types. The Day and Night creams vary in price depending on the range you buy, The Radiant Youth ones come in at £7.99 each, the other ranges are from £4.99-£7.99 - a bargain compared to some of the larger brands! A real good quality product, too. 

And off the subject of beauty, this is an absolute Gem. The new Cristalinas range is available at Asda, and this diffuser comes in at £4. Since having our own house we are constantly looking at ways to make a lovely home, whilst sticking to our budget. Who knew how expensive diffusers are!? Well this one isn't in compassion to most, and honestly works so much better. This particular fragrance is Cherry Blossom and it honestly smells good enough to eat (please don't eat it though). It's the first thing you smell when you enter the room, and it really does last. Probably the best £4 we've spent on our home (well technically the best £12 as we've brought three!). 

So there you have it, living on a budget doesn't have to be so bad after all! Do you use any products that are a bargain? We'd love to know! Hopefully these products will give you a few less things to moan about.