Living in London, I'm not near any CCOs (Cosmetics Company Outlets), but I live next to Portobello market and in the last year I've picked up a few Benefit and MAC cosmetics there. There used to be one guy - I call him Benefit Man - whose stall I was addicted to! I never asked him where he got the stuff but I was pretty sure they weren't fakes. The only one that seemed dodgy to me was a bottle of Posie Tint which had a slightly larger cap than my shop-bought High Beam. Anyway, he went off the radar last autumn.
This morning I found another stall selling Benefit, Stilla and most MAC, plus some other premium brands. The stall owner said MAC destroy unsold cosmetics, and so I guess someone intercepts this! I picked up a few things I've wanted for a while; Dame blush and Twinks and Sketch eyeshadows. My impulse buys were the lipglasses and Star Violet eyeshadow - which I think is actually my favourite of the three! I've never bothered with MAC lipglosses before as £12 is over the top for something I'm not that into.
So anyway, here's the haul...
Unpackaged...
I've wanted Dame blush for ages, and it really is a perfect pink for my pale skin. It has tiny BLUE sparkles, but they only add a nice iridescence to my cheeks. I got it for £8.
The pro pan eyeshadows were £5 each - I only need two more to complete my 12 pan palette!
The lipglasses were £7.50 each. They are very pretty colours and quite long lasting, but I do find the lipglass formula stickier than I like. They are both pretty sheer, and Nymphette is the most interesting with its goldy-green shimmer.
So I'm very happy with my bargain MAC haul, most of the bits were at least half the price of what they are in the shop - but this is all I think they're worth really! I'll be keeping my eye out for more pro pan eyeshadows!
My bargain of the day was actually this 40 eyeshadow palette by a brand I've never heard of - Saffron London - for £2!
I thought the pigmentation would be awful, but for £2 I couldn't say no. Well, I got home and swatched them and the pigmentation is fabulous! Granted they are a bit chunky and flaky and some are quite glittery, but some of the colours are absolutely gorgeous! They apply best with a sponge applicator. The one that comes with them is a bit rubbish, but I have a couple of great ones from Urban Decay eyeshadows that work perfectly.
The palette is a really nice size - smaller than Coastal Scents 88 palettes but larger than a MAC 12 pan.
This morning I found another stall selling Benefit, Stilla and most MAC, plus some other premium brands. The stall owner said MAC destroy unsold cosmetics, and so I guess someone intercepts this! I picked up a few things I've wanted for a while; Dame blush and Twinks and Sketch eyeshadows. My impulse buys were the lipglasses and Star Violet eyeshadow - which I think is actually my favourite of the three! I've never bothered with MAC lipglosses before as £12 is over the top for something I'm not that into.
So anyway, here's the haul...
The pro pan eyeshadows were £5 each - I only need two more to complete my 12 pan palette!
The lipglasses were £7.50 each. They are very pretty colours and quite long lasting, but I do find the lipglass formula stickier than I like. They are both pretty sheer, and Nymphette is the most interesting with its goldy-green shimmer.
So I'm very happy with my bargain MAC haul, most of the bits were at least half the price of what they are in the shop - but this is all I think they're worth really! I'll be keeping my eye out for more pro pan eyeshadows!
My bargain of the day was actually this 40 eyeshadow palette by a brand I've never heard of - Saffron London - for £2!
I thought the pigmentation would be awful, but for £2 I couldn't say no. Well, I got home and swatched them and the pigmentation is fabulous! Granted they are a bit chunky and flaky and some are quite glittery, but some of the colours are absolutely gorgeous! They apply best with a sponge applicator. The one that comes with them is a bit rubbish, but I have a couple of great ones from Urban Decay eyeshadows that work perfectly.
The palette is a really nice size - smaller than Coastal Scents 88 palettes but larger than a MAC 12 pan.
There are loads of great brownish/reddy/bricky colours which look great with blue eyes.
What's your best makeup bargain?
