HONEY, IM HOME!
I’m back from the Far East with many a far-out story to tell and lots of photos to accompany the poor chat! Hooray!
So – to summarise. I spent a week in Hong Kong, then went to China to check out the shops and the sights before back to HK for my Grandma’s 90th birthday. (Big up to my PorPor & the rest of the Dubs family!)
Bought lots, ate lots, absolutely melted in the 35 degree heat. The end.
It’s actually really good to be back – I was massively surprised by the good weather welcoming me home – when I left it was like “10 degrees with chance of snow” and CHECK OUT THE GLORIOUS SUNSHINE NOW! Summer is finally here. HIYA.
Highlights of the holiday?
Well it all started very nicely with me treating myself to a Yves St Laurent Touché Éclat at Heathrow Duty Free.
I also got given a free Dior J’Adore perfume sample with a cute little ceramic tag.
Not sure what I’m meant to do with the tag though?
Spray it and hang it in my wardrobe? Make it into a bag charm?
Cradle it in my palm and coo at it lovingly? …Suggestions welcome.
ANYWAY! My parents have a new flat in China and it is beautiful – the view is just insaaane, it’s opposite a nature reservoir surrounded by stereotypical Chinese misty blue hills.
The only downside is that the chirpy crickets can get a bit annoying after a while. Oh – and a bat crash-landed on the balcony one night. Casual.
(I say it so calmly now but i may or may not have flipped out and ran around the house hysterically shouting about rabies.)
Holiday Spend
Shopping is great in China. Fact. I bought four pairs of shoes, a couple of short suits and a ‘Hermes’ scarf for about fifty quid (and subsequently splashed it allllll over my Instagram feed – the only social media I could access there)
Other than censorship, I LOVE CHINA.
I also ‘got mah nails did’ for a tenner – hands AND feet. Bargain.
They went through some mighty vigorous soaking and trimming, in fact I’m pretty sure a peeler was used at some point but I didn’t want to look and I’m sure you don’t wanna know! Yeesh.
But now I have almost respectable feet – so at least people will be less grossed out when I use my toes to pick up stuff.
Yes, yes, probably still very grossed out yes but less so? Right? ..Right?
Beauty Buys
Hong Kong is still my favourite for Beauty though. – I ended up with a lot of shiz I don’t need. Prime example – a drawer for my false eyelashes. Seriously. A DRAWER. For eyelashes!
Best buy?
I cannot rave enough about these!! I don’t know what they’re called but I have dubbed them “Velcro hair hold-backers”.
(again, evidence why I’m not in advertising)
They are absolutely genius to hold back that annoying bit of fringe which is dangling around getting covered in foundation or getting all up in yo’ grill while you’re cleansing your face.
Binge Buying
I also ended up going in a bit of a Shu Uemura binge and ended up choosing the UV Under Base Mousse (SPF30 woop woop)
SOGO (equivalent of Selfridges in HK) was having an amazing offer week – I bought two of the Shu Uemura mousses and they came with free cleansing oils, loose powders and a little BB cream!
Dont worry – the haul’s not all for me! Okay, it’s mainly all for me.. (sorry aka not sorry)
To add to the holiday transformation, I also got my hair done in Hong Kong – ombré red but just in the under layers.
You likey? Edgy enough for my Shoreditch neighbours but still conservative enough for the office?
Hair maintenance just went up big time though – I’m having a ridiculously hard time trying to keep the red in. My towels are getting stained to bits, it’s like a murder scene everyone I shower!
So what do you think of my buys? Have you tried any of the products I bought?
Would love to hear your tips on maintaining hair colour – or, alternatively, a place to buy cheap towels!
Do you pick up stuff with your feet too? Just me? Cool.
xXXXx
Zoe is a Forbes ’30 under 30′ finance pro, style writer, presenter and panellist, working for a fashion startup and trying to live that best life in the most IRL way possible.
Find me on: Twitter
I love HK for beauty products and in general cheap stuff aswell! please give me some feedback on my blog! x
Its great isnt it!! Thanks for your comment Anita 🙂 x
Nice to have you back in town, twitter feels quiet without you! x
It feels good to be back! It's taking time to get back into the zone though haha x
I love Asian beauty products and cosmetics, they always look so cute and pretty!
They really do look amazing – such a contrast to the minimalist approach that a lot of western cosmetics take! x
Been keeping up on your Instagram! It made me want to go to HK so bad haha. Those products look amazing i've heard far east products are really sought after and amazing 🙂 x
They are really unique! Stuff that I never even knew I needed but now are integral to my beauty routine! x
Wooo! I loved my asian beauty bits and I've finally done my blog on them! I've now decided that I want to goto Hong Kong. And China.xx
Everyone check out Charlottes amazing post here! http://blotandreapply.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/beauty-box-swap-with-facevaluebeauty.html
About the red hair….utter nightmare! pillows, towels, white shirts all stained! i had my hair bleached first, but luckily by the time the red completely disappeared, my hair had grown out long enough to make the bleached bits look intentional and ombre'd. Also, we have a place in dubai called Dragon Mart (not racist at all?)…think I'll go stock up on far eastern beauty bits! (always got super worried I'd misunderstand instructions and end up dying my eyebrows green or something)
Hahahaha, love it Lakshmy! Dragon Mart is the best name ever – see ya later Tesco. x
Have you tried the Heaven Bee Venom range from http://www.skincareorganics.co.uk . All organic and used by the royal family . Its contains Abeetoxin which is the natural alternative to anti wrinkle injections.x Ask for some samples
these shoes look fantastic. Did anyone tell you you look like Hilary Duff? : )http://4batgirl.blogspot.com
Well no…. because I'm fairly sure I don't..! haha 🙂