£125 Space NK voucher - paralysed with indecision!

[herbaceous]

Hello all

I have been given, rather marvellously, a Space NK voucher for £125. As most of my skincare/make up comes from Superdrug and Sainsburys, I am like a rabbit in headlights at such bounty.

I have the odd 'nice' bit of make up, such as Mac Ruby Woo and Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser, and don't mind spending on such products that really do seem to be worth the money, but have a healthy scepticism about the limitations of a £100 eye cream.

So, what to buy? I don't really want to get hair stuff (mine is short, and does just fine with cheap wax), or the aforementioned over-priced skin care, so will probably stick to make up, though I could do with something that brightens and tightens under the wrinkly little eyes.

Items I'm considering include Hourglass's radiant light highlighter powder stuff, some more LM tinted moisturiser, and something by By Terry, as I keep hearing how AMAZING it all is.

I'm 52, dry-ish skin, fair with freckles, hazel eyes and blonde/brown hair.

[SheffieldStealer]

The Hourglass primer is pretty amazing, and at £55 definitely the kind of thing I'd only splurge on with a generous gift voucher! I also like their Vanish foundation stick, and the Ethereal radiant light powder.

[PetiteMarseillaise]

Eve Lom cleanser, Chantecaille make up, NARS make up, Diptyque candles would be the things I would go for. Lucky you, enjoy!

[OhWhatToChoose]

If you don't normally have the budget for high end skin care then I would say go for makeup. You'd hate to discover amazing skin care and then not be able to keep using it.

Becca is the only brand to go for for highlighters, Hourglass for blush, bronzer and skin perfectors, Nars blusher last forever, perhaps a lovely eyeshadow palette.

Don't bother with primer as it pricey and there are some amazing ones you can get from Boots etc.

Or splurge on some amazing makeup brushes.

Enjoy your spending, don't let the sales assistant push you into anything if you go in store - stay strong!

[PetiteMarseillaise]

Enjoy your spending, don't let the sales assistant push you into anything if you go in store - stay strong!

Yes ^^ to that. I always like to try things on (have them put it on me to see how it "should" be done) and then come back in a little while, to get a feel for how any make up sits on my skin and how well it wears on me. I've not bought even a lipstick straight off the shelf for many years.

[BringMeTea]

Hourglass ambient lighting powder. (I don’t have this but I want it!) and as you say, something by ByTerry. Lucky you!

[StarkintheSouth]

Definitely Hourglass primer - I got a sample of it the other day and when my current primer runs out I'm getting it. Made my skin look radiant and make up stays put all day!! I would also recommend LM mascara and tinted moisturiser. The By Terry Touche Veloutee (sp) is brilliant and a staple for me. I love Nars eyeshadows and blushers, great colours and staying power. I got a voucher recently and splurged on a diptique candle. Was a bit unsure at first but I love it.
You lucky thing!!!

[AnaViaSalamanca]

I recommend reading as many reviews on thier site as you can before going to the store so that you are not talked into buying something, read about products that have many reviews rather than only a handful.

I also recommend sunday riely good genes.

[Auspiciouspanda]

Sunday Riley!

[hollygolipo]

Definitely the primer and a great blusher from Nars; LM does beautiful lipsticks which are great if you have dry lips and Diptyque perfumes are gorgeous too if you're in the market for a new one. By Terry concealer is excellent. Can we all come with you?

[bingohandjob]

I'd go to the store and make a wish list then I'd wait until Christmas day....they have a great half price sale!

[ibuiltahomeforyou]

I'd DEFINITELY get a Lipstick Queen Velvet Rope lipstick - hands down the best one I've ever had! £35 but worth it!

[AnaViaSalamanca]

by the way depending how long your voucher is valid for, I would suggest waiting for boxing day sales or when they do goody bags. sign up to their mailing list to see what offers they have. they do relatively regular ones

[herbaceous]

Thank you all!

My voucher is valid for ages, I'd imagine, but I kinda want to spend it as a) it was a group birthday present from friends, so I feel I should be seen to be enjoying it while the moment is there, and b) I suspect the sort of stuff I want is quite 'current' and won't be in the sale.

So, By Terry concealer, Hourglass, Becca and By Terry highlighters and Lipstick Queen lipsticks are defo on the list. I'm not convinced by primers - I have a couple, and they don't seem to make much difference. Though my entire make up routine takes about two minutes, tops, so there's a slim chance I'm just doing it all wrong.

Top tip re trying them out for a bit. I'm actually singing in a concert 'Up West' on Sunday, so could maybe go and get it troweled on in SNK beforehand, see how it lasts, and go back to get the good stuff afterwards!

I just found an Eve Lom foundation and powder at TK Maxx 9told you I was a cheapskate), reducing the need for such products!

[GreyMorning]

www.spacenk.com/uk/en_GB/skincare/treatment/face-oils/chamomile-aromatic-care-MUK122139575.html

www.spacenk.com/uk/en_GB/skincare/cleansers/scrubs-exfoliants/the-method%3A-polish-MUK200013278.html

I'm not hugely impressed by the Hourglass ambient light highlighter.

Becca primer is good

Laura Mercier mascara is the best I've found, non clumpy and no horrible fibres to irritate the eye, you can layer it up too.

Nars do an eyeliner that's flesh coloured so great for use on the inner part of the eyelid when you have a newborn and haven't slept since forever, it hides the redness and brightens the eye.

Also Laura Mercier photo finish foundation (I think it's oil free) is lovely for special occasions.


Can you tell I have a slight addiction?

[herbaceous]

I am now a primer convert. Used a bit of a Laura Mercier sample yesterday, and it took five years off me. Someone even asked if I'd lost weight! So, primer now on the list. Maybe a Becca one, as they get rave reviews.

Have also spotted a Laura Mercier highlighter stick, more suited to my daily life of teaching and occasional visits to the pub than the Instagram/selfie lifestyle so many of them seemed targeted towards...

Should get a blusher, but I don't seem to be able to use it without looking like a clown.

[Housewife2010]

I would save it until the next Space NK GWP. They regularly do a big bag of goodies with around a £150 spend. Alternatively their sale starts on Boxing Day. I have had some fantastic bargains.

[BumWad]

Nars creamy concealer

[robotsmania]

I spent £300 in space nk on makeup for my wedding 10years ago and I've still got some of the products left, plus I just replace anything that runs out.

My best tip would be the chantecaille gel based foundation. I first used it with Laura mercier primer, but apparently you don't need primer for it as it is gel based.

I also got amazing powder from by terry, plus by terry highlighter (their version of touche eclat).

But what I found helpful was going into the store and really talking to sales girls about the products. I first went in for a free makeover, then ended up going for two more free makeovers in different stores. It was actually by the time I'd had 3 makeovers I'd narrowed down the right products to buy.

Enjoy your spending- and great present from your friends!!

[herbaceous]

Thank you! I might pop in there Sunday lunchtime, get some slap on, see how it fares during my concert, then go back and buy whatever is the best product. Then I'll wait until the sales to spend the rest.

It is a particularly good present, as I am now a teaching assistant (earning just about min wage), but used to have a good salary (and work near a space NK) so I miss having the odd lovely bit of frippery.

[WellTidy]

The best foundation I've ever had is a chantecaille gel foundation from space nk. It was about £60. Amazing, no primer needed, really made me look so much better than others I've used. I also like becca backlight and a nars lip crayon in 'happy days' which I get through very quickly as it is so soft, so not great value for money, but a lovely thing.

[herbaceous]

Hello all. I'm sure you've all been AGOG, waiting to find out what I bought.

Well, on Sunday there was a lovely relaxed make-up artist (used to be bit at Mac, appaz), and he gently steered me away from Hourglass and By Terry, implying they're very trendy but maybe a bit sparkly for the crepey of eye.

He guided me towards Laura Mercier and Nars, saying that while Chantecaille is very lovely, it's super pricey. He did my face, and I ended up buying a LM hydrating primer, LM 'candlelight' setting powder (which is a teeny bit highlighty), Nars creamy concealer, Lipstick Queen medieval, and a travel pack of Becca highlighters. And a Claudelie face spray, but that was extra. All the kind of stuff that won't be in the sale, and all good five-star review stuff.

Fell in love with a number of extremely expensive smelly things, sadly.

[Wellysocksbox]

Placemarking because one has just opened up in my local town