My French Mecca

After our failed not so successful attempt to complete trinational shopping (thats shopping in three different countries in one day if you're slow to catch on), we decided to take a guided tour (aka Hilary drove us) into the French town of Thoiry which is just across the border of Switzerland.

Now I'll just give you heads up- this is going to be a very girly, makeup orientated post.
So if you're not my Dad or Andy, feel free to skip this update if what I'm going to be  thoroughly describing doesn't exactly tickle your fancy. And if you are my Dad or Andy, I expect you to sit there and carefully read every detail of what I'm about to elaborately write because I am certain that you both miss me giving you reviews, telling you about new products, trying new samples and going make up shopping with me.

Val Thoiry was a very small, local shopping centre and unfortunately, I didn't find any clothing that caught my eye. Adament to buy something whilst shopping in France, I ended up buying french underwear and socks, ooh lala !

HOWEVER, just as we were about to head home, I found the place which set my heart racing and caused me to spend over an hour deciding between two shades of lipstick - Sephora.

You know how some people meditate to reach a state of zen and transcendence where everything is good in the world and feel nothing but pure elation? Well, I reached my "happy place" simply by setting foot into this store.

I kid you not, when I say I literally ran into the store with excitement and delight. My eyes just about exploded when I saw brands like MakeupForever, Smashbox and TooFaced all at regular prices.  Thats right, not the 200% markup on price that is put on good quality, imported makeup in Australia.

After overcoming the small difficulty of a language barrier between me and the shop assistant - I got myself my own personal Sephora translator ! ;) I proceeded to spend the next hour foaming at the mouth over eyeshadows, foundations, brushes and primers all which made me want to chain myself to the register counter and never leave.

In the end I left a very happy shopper with a Sephora brand foundation brush, a Smashbox Oil Free PhotoFinish Primer, MakeupForever matt lipstick in the shade Mat2, some samples of Lady Gaga's perfume Fame and another by Guerlain called Shalimar  and an Urban Decay Naked Palette Edition 2.

YES  I GOT AN URBAN DECAY NAKED PALETTE.

If you're not a makeup junky (which chances are, you're not) then you won't understand the sheer pleasure and feeling of holliness I felt when I saw this palette was actually in stock and on the shelf right in front of me. I have been trying for years to get this baby but everywhere (including when I was in New York City) was either sold out or selling their last one at ludicrous prices.
So now I can say I have the makeup world's equivalent of the Holy Grail and can die knowing that my eyeshadow will be perfect.

Also, just an update on the International McDonalds taste ranking. France did a good job on the fries but sadlly was let down by their chicken nuggets which was not real chicken breast :(