Welcome to the latest post from my Expectation vs Reality series - let me quickly set the scene for you here.


I am one of the poorest people in the land. I'll hold my hands up high and admit that I am that girl; the one whose card has been declined for a solitary can of Smart Price tuna and the kinda bird who sees a penny on the floor and has to pick it up - regardless of the high potential it has to be covered in scally urine [do kids still do that? do unspeakable things to pennies to then hide and watch as other, unsuspecting penny-pickers like me come along and pick them up? Or is this just further confirmation that I attended possibly the most grimmest of high schools?]


Combine this with the fact I have an uncontrollable urge to buy things, an addiction to online shopping and that I am also a self confessed eBay junkie - and you have the basis to this series [bargains are my equivalent of crack.]


When I buy something - no matter how cheap it is - I want to know what I'm getting will be sh*t hot, not just plain old sh*t. But sadly [as is the way with ordering in stock from China that costs about 3% of the price it would cost you in the UK] more often than not, that amazing looking playsuit you got for a quid and that looked pure fit on the model turns out to be nothing more than a sick joke with lace on.


This, my friends, is what the cool kids call an 'Expectation vs Reality' moment. You know what I mean; you order an absolute bargain online that looks like it's going to be a pure fitty, but then when it arrives... you don't know whether to laugh or cry because of how terrible it is. And sometimes, you just give up and do both; simultaneously. THAT.


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If you're new to this concept - welcome. And if you're interested as to how my previous bargain hunting missions have gone down you can check them out herehere and here [spoiler alert, one is that bad it legit looks like a bed-wetting sheet stitched into a garment.]

Most of the time, despite being beyond comprehendible levels of broke, I can laugh at my Expectation vs Reality moments. The 'it's so bad, it's funny' kinda awkward lols. Think that it serves myself right, for ordering something for 50p from Hong Kong with free postage and hoping it would be top quality. 

But then sometimes, on the flip side of the coin, you strike gold and that 67p necklace you shipped in from halfway across the world is perfect and it's a triumph like no other. 

It's an oddly addictive gamble to take. Anyway, as I've explained last week and a fair few times now- this series is going to be dedicated to this concept; kind of like the 'Fit or Sh*t?' features I had going on before I became too poor to afford new makeup to test [insert a teary-eyed smiley here.] Follow me on my journey as I test out the cheapest products of the internets, to see if they actually do look like the picture - you can either grab some great bargains or learn a lot  from my mistakes!

Expectation vs Reality: Part #4 > The 61p Midi Ring Set

Expectation > 4 piece Gold Plated Midi Ring Set [which I won at auction for just 61p but which I have since seen sell for just 11p inc postage!!!] which came subject a 2-3 week delay as it was being shipped in from China.



Reality > Fair enough, a cute ring set - but I'll tell you something right here, right now before you assume that all was well with this shopping spree. Asian clothes and jewellery sizes are making me feel like a whopping man-beast.



Don't be fooled, guys. Not a single one of these rings fits on any other finger than my little finger. I feel like some kind of mutant giant - I always thought I had long, skinny, creepy looking fingers and now China - what with their size XL garments not fitting over my arse and their rings not fitting over my fingernails - are making me feel like a colossal beast.

I'm trying to not take this personally - I know I've definitely consumed one too many bourbon biscuits recently and I'm perhaps not as slim and spritely as I was - but I do feel that If I went to China, that I would be cast off as some kind of giant mutant.





Conclusion > Unless you have a pet or small child you can dress up - or you're super into putting four midi rings at a time on your little finger - I'd probably save your 61p and put it towards a nice pack of bourbon biscuits or whatever else [though I highly recommend the biscuits, I always recommend biscuits. F you China - I'm a whopper and proud!!] 

But if after reading this, you do [for whatever reason, I won't judge] want to pick up some of these mini midi rings, you can do so here. Even if it's just for the comedy value. 


What are your thoughts? Have you had any epic 'Expectation vs Reality' moments with things you've bought online, or any amazing bargains off eBay?


If you've read my blog before [or even just glanced over my rambling assortment of tweets] it is plain to see that I love beauty boxes and that I more than love a freebie. But you may well have also gathered that I am the poorest person in the land and had to cancel my Birchbox and Glossybox subscriptions due to the sick joke that is my finances.


With this in mind, imagine how hard I buzzed off the news that I'd won the gorgeous Sandra from the Black Pearl Blog fame's giveaway, with the prize being a My Little Frenchie Box;  a box I'd perved off countless times before [if you haven't checked her out before; do it! She's fab, her blog is beautiful and she's due to give birth pretty soon, so head over and wish her well.]


I heart the whole concept of the My Little Box sub service. I've stalked countless other bloggers' posts about their offerings and stalked their website for ages - and in an ideal world, I would have been subbed to My Little Box a longgggg time ago. But then again, in an ideal world, I wouldn't have ended up on crutches for nine months or become so poor that I have had to sell around 85% of my possessions on Depop. LOL.



So, without further ado, here's a little post summarising my very first experience with My Little Box. I'm going to warn you in advance that this is likely to be a VERY photo heavy post because the My Little Frenchie Box is legit the prettiest effing sub box I've ever received... and the fact that it was sent to me as a generous prize, makes it feel even better <3





So, how cute / useful / wildly cosmopolitan is this My Little Smartphone Case | £16.00? Its design reminds me of luggage tags and passport holders... in fact, it could quite easily be put on your case as a little splash of ooh la la to identify your belongings as they circle round the luggage belt in the airport. Ideal for popping your phone, travel tickets, iPod or cards / change in, this little case is going straight into my holiday collection. And I'll be honest, the packaging it came in was every bit as thrilling for me as the item inside; I heart great design.



DHC Blotting Paper, £4.00 per 100 sheets  | My Little Beauty Complexion Enhancer, Glowing Skin £9.50

DHC Blotting Paper - How cute is this, please?! The packaging is so beaut, I'm a lot in love. I can't wait to try this blotting paper out - it's actually ideal for taking on holiday with you, for those times you get a bit hot and bothered in the face. I am one of the shiniest buggers alive - I've compared the state of my fod after a few hours in the heat to that oiled up photo of Kimmy K before - so this product may very well change my life [and also reduce the amount I spend on pressed powder each month in the constant fight against shine.]

My Little Beauty Complexion Enhancer, Glowing Skin - My Little Box have their own collection of beauty products - their My Little Corner range. This complexion enhancer contains Apricot Kernels [I heart the smell of Apricots] and gives your skin a refreshed, radiant look; thanks to its almost pink tint. This is ideal for a warm, summer's evening on holiday - and it's going in my case RIGHT NOW.


L'Oréal Super Liner Brow Artist Shaper, £5.49

As an eyebrow obsessite, I am made up to have received this as part of the box. I love trying out new brow products. I even received a deep / medium brown pencil which looks almost the exact same shade as my brows - it's like fate. This 3-in-1 pencil is designed to help you get babelicious brows in minutes - the pencil is used to shape and sculpt, the little brush is used to tame and shape your arch and the cream end of the pencil is a clear wax based formula, designed to fix your brows into their desired place.


Terrybly Khol Pencil, £23

This waterproof kohl crayon is amazingly soft. Like, it applies like velvet, with a gorgeous subtle shimmer. I got this pencil in the shade Bronze Generation and I am MADE UP! This colour is ideal and finally, just finally, I feel I might be able to perfect a Kardashian inspired smokey eye using this pencil.



This is my favourite part of the whole box. Pot of Messages | £6.50

"To each day, its own dose of inspiration.

Close your eyes, pick a message, unroll it. Comforting quotes, pick me ups, tips on how to confront your wardrobe in the morning. Ines shares all her inspirations and elegance in the buzzword. Let your mornings surprise you!"


Each of these tiny, coloured scrolls in the jar unroll to show a cute little message and are held closed by tiny little gold rings. CAN YOU EVEN?! Cos I can't. How cute is this idea? And how cute is this jar? It really adds a sweet, quirky and delicate little touch to my flat. I've never received anything quite like this in a subscription box before - or life [maybe I'm insanely sheltered / deprived?] so I am well happy.


Finally The My Little World magazine that accompanies this box is also well worth a read; with tons of hair, beauty and lifestyle tips and inspo. Usually, I just bin [well, obsessively recycle] the leaflets and mags that come with stuff like this as I never find them that useful / interesting .. but once again, this box has out-surpassed my expectations. So thanks again, Sandra!

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Have you tried a My Little Box before? Are you signed up? What's your favourite sub box?


Honesty is always the best policy. Try telling that to the majority of the male species and they'll most likely do a massive rofl in your face or start looking dead uncomfortable [or maybe I'm just very miserable / cynical] but for me, the truth wins hands down. Which is one of the main reasons I decided to launch my Expectation vs Reality Series. That and the fact that I am one of the poorest people in the land, so when I buy something, I want to know what I'm getting will be sh*t hot, not just plain old sh*t.


The idea for this series stemmed from me having ordered this bodychain right, that I was proper excited to get my hands on. On the photos, it looked bloody amazing and I expected it to be worth every penny of the £5.00 I spent on it. And then it turned up. To this day, I still regard it as one of the sh*ttest things I've ever bought [and I'll happily admit, I have bought some very debatable 'bargains' in my time.] How could the seller even pretend that that was the same chain as in the picture? I know my knockers aren't huge, but they'd have to be about an N cup for the size of the charms on the chain to either a)  look the way they did in the photo or to b) sit the way they did in the photos. This, my friends, is what the cool kids call an 'Expectation vs Reality' moment. You know what I mean; you order an absolute bargain online that looks like it's going to be a pure fitty, but then when it arrives... you don't know whether to laugh or cry because of how terrible it is. THAT.


If you're new to this concept - welcome. And if you're interested as to how my previous bargain hunting missions have gone down you can check them out here and here [spoiler alert, one is that bad it legit looks like a bed-wetting sheet stitched into a garment.]


Most of the time, despite being beyond comprehendible levels of broke, I can laugh at my Expectation vs Reality moments. The 'it's so bad, it's funny' kinda awkward lols. Think that it serves myself right, for ordering something for 50p from Hong Kong with free postage and hoping it would be top quality. 

But then sometimes, on the flip side of the coin, you strike gold and that 31p skirt you shipped in from halfway across the world is perfect and it's a triumph like no other. 

It's an oddly addictive gamble to take. Anyway, as I explained last week - this series is going to be dedicated to this concept; kind of like the 'Fit or Sh*t?' features I had going on before I became too poor to afford new makeup to test [insert a teary-eyed smiley here.] Follow me on my journey as I test out the cheapest products of the internets, to see if they actually do look like the picture - you can either grab some great bargains or learn a lot  from my mistakes!

Expectation vs Reality: Part #3 > The 67p Wishbone Necklace

I'd been after a wishbone necklace for a while. Orelia do this gorgeous one, which I actually featured on my Very Lust List post a few weeks ago, sobbing as I typed cos I couldn't afford it. So when I logged onto eBay and found what looked to be an exact replica for approx. just 67p [including postage!!!!! Can you cope with this???? Cos I couldn't!!!!] I whacked that buy button faster than the speed of light.

Expectation > Gold, wishbone necklace, with a 2-3 week shipping time seeing as it was coming in from China.


Reality > SO much better than I anticipated. A delicate charm and equally delicate chain of a nice length. Yeah, I can't lie - it arrived tangled. At one point I felt like just binning the b*stard, as I don't have much patience at the best of times - and this mission just felt too much. But I'm glad I persevered. I'm a little concerned that it might go green pretty much instantaneously; but I hope not as this will be the cutest necklace for all seasons.




I'm made up with this bargain - whereas Orelia's version retails for £9.99, my version cost me just 67p - which leaves plenty of extra coin leftover to invest in blocks of cheese and bourbon biscuits; my two main interests in life.

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What are your thoughts? Have you had any epic 'Expectation vs Reality' moments with things you've bought online, or any amazing bargains off eBay?


If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram, you'll have noticed I have done my fair share of ranting recently about how poor I am [not that I don't broadcast that fact heavily enough throughout my blog as it is anyway #cheapskate #smartprice'sbiggestfan.] Anyway, I got a bit fed up of the whole poverty stricken situation and wanted to cheer myself up - to which old Mr Credit Card called out to me and said "Go on lad, you deserve it" [before it cackled in glee at how much interest he's going to sting me with.] Unluckily for old Mr C, I headed straight to MUA's website  to spoil myself - and their range of beauty products defo don't break the band! 

MUA are quickly becoming one of my favourite budget beauty brands. And, with prices starting from just £1, it's not hard to see why *puts away my David Dickinson 'Bargain Hunt' fleece*. Here's a little rundown of the baby MUA haul I enjoyed this week.


Pro-Base Prime & Conceal Correcting Creams - in Yellow and Peach, £2.00 each

You may have read as part of my recent Budget Face Base [BFB] post about my love and dependency on the MUA Pro-Base Prime & Conceal Palette to make me look less like a zombie and more like a functioning human. I use this palette everyday and have done so for a while, but I noticed a trend - the two colours from the palette I was hammering through at an alarming rate were mainly the peach and the yellow. So I invested in these extremely reasonably priced bad boys will hopefully help keep my atrocious, vampire-esque dark circles at bay.



Matte Lipstick in Lilac Belle, £1.00

No, that wasn't a typo. This bad boy legit only cost one english pound. Can you cope with that news? Cos I can't. 

One of the dangers of regularly stalking other beauty blogger's / instagrammer's posts is that quite often, you see a trend or a product that makes your heart soar and your mind say 'oh wow.' The second danger which follows this love at first sight moment, is usually the cost of said product. I've wanted to try a purple lipstick for actually ages after some intensive blogger stalking - and for just £1, even I can't deny myself this experience. Lilac Belle is a lovely, bright lipstick with a really creamy formula and it smells fab too - you might take a lipstick smelling nice for granted, but if you caught my Mac Velvet Teddy Dupe Review the other week - you'll know that this isn't always the case!




Lip Liner in Caramel Nougat, £1.00

That was actually a pretty seamless link... as I specifically bought this lip liner to compliment the use of my Mac Velvet Teddy Dupe lipstick. Unlike the dupe lipstick itself however, this lip liner has no noxious aroma associated with it and has a lovely creamy consistency - not scratchy and grim, like some lip liners can be. It also comes with a sharpener in the lid - it might be a simple touch, but I am made up with this feature - especially as it came on the top of a product that was just £1!



Nail Polishes in [L-R as seen on my nails above] Frozen Yoghurt, Pistachio Ice Cream and Bold Blue, £1.00 each

I heart pastel colours. Like, maybe heart isn't even a strong enough word. I am obsessed with pastel colours. These polishes apply really nicely. They're quite dry and thin in consistency; but thick enough so that I only needed two coats for an opaque, colour-rich finish. This consistency also means that they dry pretty rapidly too [though this cheeky heatwave we've been having definitely helped!] and don't go all tacky and smudge.





MUA Luxe Power Brow, Mid Brown, £3.00

I'm obsessed with a good pair of brows, so I couldn't resist trying out this new product. I actually really love this eyebrow pencil. One end is a thick, pearly, creamy highlighter and the other contains the mid brown brow pencil. Both apply really well and the highlighter is a welcome addition to my brow game. And the brown shade itself is really nice; you may have read in this earlier post of mine that the last brunette eyebrow pencil I bought - from Soap and Glory - was a little too dark / cold toned for my complexion and made my eyebrows clash intensely with my blonde hair. 

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What do you think of my choices? Have you tried any of these products before? Do you have any must have MUA products to recommend?

As I proudly declared in my first Expectation vs Reality post the other week [you can click that link if you fancy reading it you know, it opens in a new tab and evs so you won't lose your place *winky face*] it is no secret that I'm insanely tight with my cash [mainly cos I never sodding have any.] 


However, in the constant bargain hunting mission which is my life [I've said it before and I'll say it again, I am pretty much David Dickinson with less of a tan] there is nothing worse than having a full on 'Expectation vs Reality' moment. You know what I mean; you order an absolute bargain online that looks like it's going to be a pure fitty, but then when it arrives... you don't know whether to laugh or cry because of how terrible it is. THAT.


Most of the time, despite being beyond comprehendible levels of broke, I can laugh at my Expectation vs Reality moments. The 'it's so bad, it's funny' kinda awkward lols. Think that it serves myself right, for ordering something for 50p from Hong Kong with free postage and hoping it would be top quality. 

But then sometimes, on the flip side of the coin, you strike gold and that 31p skirt you shipped in from halfway across the world is perfect and it's a triumph like no other. 

It's an oddly addictive gamble to take. Anyway, as I explained last week - this series is going to be dedicated to this concept; kind of like the 'Fit or Sh*t?' features I had going on before I became too poor to afford new makeup to test [insert a teary-eyed smiley here.] Follow me on my journey as I test out the cheapest products of the internets, to see if they actually do look like the picture - you can either grab some great bargains or learn a lot  from my mistakes!

Expectation vs Reality: Part #2 > 99p Lace Playsuit

Expectation > White playsuit with lace trimmings - I have seen these sell on Depop and several online boutiques for up to £26 [they're everywhere, so no doubt you will have noticed these too.] I ordered this in a size M - the equivalent of an English size 14 - as the size guide sketchily suggested that the sizing on products might vary 'by a few centimetres' and I'm a size 10-12. Cheers for the specificness, like.



Reality > Did my playsuit look like the one above? In a word, no. In three more words - did it sh*te. Here it is anyway. Laugh or cry in terror, it's SH*T. First off - it's shiny?! It looks like one of those sheets you put on kids beds when they're prone to a spot of bedwetting. It also came creased to glory - I did think about perhaps ironing it for the purpose of this post, but I also feared the material might melt or spontaneously combust.



Despite this garment being an alleged size 14 and me personally being a size 10 -12 - I couldn't take a photo of this on because it's legit like porn. It's so small and 100% see through; you can see every dimple on my arse [soz for that vile mental image.] And it wouldn't even pull up over my shoulders to get the twins in. I could barely get it over my thighs - and I know these hips of mine don't lie, but the sizing of this b*stard playsuit was definitely a massive lie.




Overall, it's so sh*t it's funnybut it's only funny because I only paid 99p for this. It boils my blood to know that sellers are buying these from China / Hong Kong for a matter of pennies and selling them to unsuspecting customers for over £20, using stock imagery that is definitely not of the item in question. The only way this playsuit would ever be ok to wear was if I was about a size 6 [wishful thinking there, like] or if I needed something waterproof and didn't care about the entirety of my arse and underwear being exposed. Maybe as a cover up on holiday or something.

Conclusion

Unless you fancy losing either a) your hard earned cash or b) your dignity wearing this bloody thing, I really strongly suggest you avoid purchasing this playsuit - from eBay or from any other online seller / boutique. Chances are, they've sourced their stock from Hong Kong too and it'll be just as sh*t and badly sized. I'm really disappointed in all honesty; I've had some great experiences with Hong Kong clothing bargains in the past and this shocker has let the side down.

However, if you do fancy a laugh [and an intense workout trying to squeeze yourself into the playsuit] you can buy this shiny beast on eBay.

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What are your thoughts? Have you had any epic 'Expectation vs Reality' moments with things you've bought online, or any amazing bargains off eBay?


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