What's In My Bag?

A couple of years ago I used to have a different handbag for almost every outfit and was always misplacing my keys, purse and everything else, but as I've got older I've narrowed it down to two, a black bag and a brown bag. Sorted.

Since blogging I have become a lot more organised and I know where pretty much everything is and now that I have just two bags it's a lot easier to sort out what I need to take with me. Now of course some of these products do change depending on the weather, where I'm going and what I'm doing but here is a look in to the general bits and bobs that you would find in my handbag if you were to sneak a peak.

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The Essentials

So first of all I won't be going anywhere without my keys. Now these are just my house keys and for the purpose of a nice photo I removed my three photo keyrings, my cuddly unicorn and turtle key ring and my work keys. I have so many keyrings as they are all special to me and also because it makes finding my keys much easier.

Second is my purse, of course this is another must as without it I won't be going very far. When it comes to my purses I like them to be bright and have lots of different pockets so I was extremely happy when I was able to buy this Ralph Lauren one for just £30.

Right! I cannot state just how important it is to drink plenty of water throughout the day, especially when you're on the go. When I don't drink enough I get headaches and feel yucky which is why I always carry a bottle with me.

Eating regularly is also important and for me I like it to be something healthy and enjoyable which is why I love these nakd bars. I always make sure that I have one to eat in my bag as I get rather peckish when I'm out and if I don't eat I get very grumpy and begin to feel nauseous. 

I've always loved taking photos but since becoming a blogger I find it essential to have some form of camera in my hand at all times and well lets face it, iPhone cameras aren't the best and their storage is a joke which is why I like to take my Samsung digital camera with me wherever I go. It takes lovely photos whilst being small and light enough to go in most my bags. 

Now I never used to keep a hairbrush in my bag but as my hairs got longer it needs brushing that little bit more often especially on windy days so I now make sure I have a one in my bag at all times. This no tangles is my favourite as it gets the knots out quick and easy without damaging your hair.

Garlic, onion, salami.. possibly three of my favourite foods that seem to be in most of the meals I eat which is why I would be lost without my chewing gum. Garlic breath? No thanks!

Finally, after probably far to many years, I decided it was time to keep a pen with me at all times and now I don't know how I ever managed without one. Perhaps I should have listened to my Mum sooner.

My Makeup Bag

Being a girl the contents of my make up bag changes regularly but for me there are some things that are just a must. First is lipstick, an item which I am never without. My current favourite is Mac Cosmo as it goes with everything and keeps my lips looking hydrated all day. However, on some days my lips need that extra bit of moisture which is why I have Vaseline in almost every bag and coat pocket. Cocoa butter is my favourite! 

Next is my Rimmel bronzer and Elizabeth Arden blusher brush. I have used Rimmels bronzer since I have worn makeup and I love it just as much now as I did then. It's the perfect colour for me and I love that it's not to sparkly so it always looks natural making it suitable to be worn on bare skin and on top of foundation.

Since blogging I have started taking much better care of my skin and now I cannot be without a hand lotion and nail file. This particular hand lotion is by Molton Brown, it's a fantastic product and the bottle is just the size for my makeup bag.

Now I don't know about you, but I cannot think of anything worse than smelling which is why I take a miniature perfume with me wherever I go. At the minute I have been using this bottle of Marc Jacobs Daisy as it has such a lovely spring/summer scent.

Last but not least are bobbles and hair grips just because you never know when you're going to need them. I always make sure I have two bobbles and then just a few grips for any unruly pieces of hair.

This makeup bag is the perfect size for my things and was just £8 from next.

If We're Lucky

Living in England sunshine is not guaranteed, not even in summer, but on those days we're lucky enough to have even a minute of sun I will be there with my sunglasses! These ones are by Ralph Lauren and are probably my favourite as I don't think you can beat a tortoise shell frame.

What things do you keep in your bag?

The MUA's £1 Lipstick.

First of all lets just stop for a moment and appreciate the fact that these lipsticks are only £1, that means that I got four lipsticks for just £4. Thank you Make-up Academy! Now we've all established that these are a total steal let's have a look at the product.

First, the packaging. With their clean, simple, modern and very stylish look these lipsticks do not look cheap at all and I would say look in the price range of £7-£10, I know its whats inside that counts but nobody wants to be seen applying an ugly looking lipstick. One of the features I love about this product is that I can easily see which lipstick I am picking up as not only do the normal lipsticks come in black and the matte lipsticks in white but each one has their colour at the bottom. This is a downside to the MAC and Elizabeth Arden range as I am forever rummaging through reading silly little labels to find the one I want.

Now for the product it self. I picked the MUA lipsticks up in four shades that I thought would be suitable for spring, two normal and two matte. The first is Peachy Keen in Matte which is very subtle and I think would look lovely if you was already wearing a brightly coloured top. The second is Nectar, a brighter and shinier version of Peachy Keen, it is a lovely pinky/orange colour that would look gorgeous if you wear wearing a crisp white top or blazer. Third is Scarlett Siren in Matte, this is probably my favourite colour as though it looks almost pillar box red, upon application it is much pinker which goes well with my olive skin. I shall be wearing this with monochrome outfits. Finally is Shade 11, I'm not sure why it doesn't have a name but it is very similar to my favourite MAC lipstick, Cosmo, a darker shade of my natural lip so perfect for wearing with most outfits.

The matte lipsticks require several more coats than your pricier lipsticks in order to become visible and are slightly drier, but with a touch of Vaseline underneath and in the summer months when lips are much less chapped I don't think it will cause much of a problem. Although I would be careful with Scarlett Siren as if you go over the same area too many times it seems to fade, which in such a bright colour can be quite noticeable. The normal lipsticks go on very well and Shade 11 is almost and exact dupe of MAC Cosmo, the only difference is that my MAC one does last longer, though for £15.50 I should hope it does!

If you suffer from chapped lips I would suggest staying away from the matte ones and go for the medium to dark shades of the normal lipsticks, as with most brands lighter coloured lipsticks highlight dry areas.

For just £1 from Superdrug these Make-Up Academy lipsticks are worth checking out and I will definitely be buying some more as well as having a look at the other products they sell.

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muastore.co.uk / superdrug.com

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Have you tried the MUA lipsticks?

Champagne & Celebrities.

Last Friday I had the pleasure of accompanying my partners Mum to a Black Tie Charity Auction with a Caribbean theme. We had a wonderful time, dancing, drinking champagne and meeting a few celebrities. It was a fantastic evening that raised both money and awareness for Rainbows Children's Hospice.

Me and William Roache, aka Ken Barlow from Coronation Street.

Me and Andy Abraham who won 2nd place on the X-factor in 2005.

An event like this of course required a new dress, something elegant and formal yet still stylish and fun. Luckily for me as soon as I walked into Lipsy (bag no.3) there it was, the perfect dress; Black with silver running through it, floor length, a split up the side, £65.. I was in love. 

This dress is a stretchy fit so it hugs the figure perfectly and the front wrap hinds any overindulgence. The v-neck is low, but no too low that you can't wear a bra and the side split shows just the right amount of leg. The sleeves were wider when I purchased this dress but as I only have small shoulders it kept slipping down, a few stitches though and this was fixed immediately. As stunning as this dress is I will warn you the back is not lined like the front is, it's not see through but you may see lumps, bumps and panty lines.

I accessorised my dress with plain black peep toe stilettos, Pandora earrings, Pandora ring and Tiffany bracelet. My hair was loosely scraped to one side and held with pins, which I then hid with a sparkly hair comb, and then softly curled with GHD straighteners. My makeup was a similar routine to to the one from my Hollywood Glamour night, except as my hair was down I opted for black khol liner on the bottom lash line, bolder false eyelashes and a darker lip.

Dress - High Neck Version, £65

Shoes - Similar Here, £65

Clutch - Similar Here, £10

Earrings - Same here, £45

Ring - Same here, £145

Bracelet - Same here, £130

Eyelashes - Same here, £5.49

Eyeliner - Similar here, £16.50

Lipstick - Select Cosmo, £15.50

I love getting dressed up for events like this, do you?

Lipsticks.. Save. Spend. Splurge.

Finding the perfect lipstick can be hard, you want the right colour that's going to last without going flakey and drying out your lips, chapped lips are not attractive, and you want it at a good price. So I got out my lipsticks, tested them all and here are my top three at a Save, Spend and Splurge.

Save: Natural Collection Lipstick £1.99 at Boots.
At a price like this it's hard to criticise, but its also hard due to the fact that this super cheap lipstick is actually rather good. In the darker colours this lipstick goes on really well, it doesn't cake up and it makes your lips feel and look soft. It is quite wear resistant however, when you're eating and drinking, it can start to fade in the centre and you may look like you've just drawn around the edges. The lighter colours in this range aren't as great as the darker ones as not much colour shows and it can tend to just be visible in areas that are chapped.

Spend: SEVENTEEN Stay Pout Lipstick £4.49 at Boots.
With this product being available at Boots, you will probably be able to find it as part of an offer, saving you a bit of money. I have used SEVENTEEN lipsticks for a very long time and I must say I do still like them. Unfortunately, once again the lighter colours aren't that great,  they're quite shiny so there's not much colour, so I am just going to skip that part and talk to you about the darker colours. They go on brilliantly, they're very true to colour and have just the right amount of shine. They make my lips feel very soft and it lasts a good amount of time, for the price I am happy to reapply that little bit more often than perhaps needed with more expensive brands.

Splurge: MAC Lipstick £15.50 at MAC Stores.
I love, love, love, MAC lipsticks and they come in so many different colours! Though being quite a bit more money than drug store brands, they're definitely worth it. They go on brilliantly, they're extremely long lasting and all their colours look fantastic on. Even my personal favourite YASH, which is in matte, doesn't look or feel dry. If you've not used MAC lipsticks before I would definitely recommend trying them out, even if you only buy one or two just to use for special occasions.

These three brands all have wonderful lipsticks and I personally like them all but I have to say although more money, MAC get first place off me.

The two that didn't make the cut. I also own Barry M Lip Paint (£4.49) and Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Colour Moisturizing Lipstick (£21). The only colour I use by Barry M is the red which is long lasting and goes on quite nicely, as for the other colours, although fairly long lasting, can appear very caked on. As for those by Elizabeth Arden, as lovely as they go on and don't dry out your lips for the price they don't last as long as I'd like.

I hope this was helpful and I'd love to know which lipsticks you like best?

Hollywood Glamour.

Katy Perry Lovely Lolita Lashes, Boots£5.95 - Maybelline Rocket Volum' Express Mascara, Boots £7.99 - L'Oreal Super Liner, Boots £6.49 - 17 Brow Sculpting Pencil, Boots £2.89 - Sleek Make-up Brow Kit in Dark, Boots £8.49 - Old Mascara Brush - Versace Cystal Noir Miniture, Gift - Rimmel Stay Matte Primer, Boots £5.99 - Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation in 303 & 400, Boots £7.99 each - Rimmel Natural Bronzer, Boots £5.99 - Elizabeth Arden Brush & Other Brush, Prices Unknown - 17 Plum Puff Blusher, Discontinued - Rodial Stemcell Superfood Lipbalm, Debenhams £17 - Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+, Boots £29 - Elizabeth Arden Lip Pencil in Bare, Gift - MAC Lipstick in YASH, Mac Store, £15.50.

So tonight is my beautiful friend and work colleagues 30th birthday party and for this special occasion she is hosting an Oscar Awards Night themed party! That means beautiful dresses, stunning hair, glamorous make up and best of all, my boyfriend in a suit! I cannot wait!

When it comes to my hair I am very much a creature of habbit, scraped up or down naturally, not very glam! So for tonight I have treated myself to a french plait done at the hairdressers, that way I can have my hair off my face how I like it, but looking perfect for the theme of tonight.

For me, an up-do requires beautifully bold eyes, a slightly bronzed cheek and that perfect shade of nude lipstick.

My Routine For Tonight

I will first use the Clinique moisturizer on any areas of dry skin, only a small dot is needed as it spreads along way. I will then apply the Rimmel primer to my T-zone and eyelids. Now we're ready for the foundation. I use these two shades of Rimmels 25hour stay foundation so that I can highlight and contour (see image below). This long lasting foundation is brilliant if you're going to be out all night dancing as it doesn't budge! However, for young supple skin this foundation is perfect, it covers spots without that caked up look you might expect from a thick foundation yet stays quite dewy, unfortunately if you have very dry skin or in the words of my mum "old wrinkly skin" you may find this foundation to be too thick.

Eyes next. Create a bold, winged line with L'Oreals Super Eyeliner on your top lid (see image below for different styles to practice, I tend to do a mix of  1 & 5). This liner lasts all night and drys pretty fast. Once it's dry take the glue from Katy Perrys Lashes, included in pack, and apply to the line of the fasle eyelashes. Wait 20-30 seconds, for the glue to become sticky, then starting out the outside stick them down as close to the lash line as possible. I use a hair grip to help me press the corners down. I'm not one for dark kohl eyeliner on my bottom lashes so instead I use Rimmels brow pencil. I then use my Maybelline mascara to coat both my top and bottom lashes.

Only very recently have I started using Sleek Makeups Brow Kit and I am already in love. I start my brows by brushing them up and out with an old mascara brush, I then pluck any stray hairs with the mini tweezers. Next use the angled brush to line the bottom (and top if you desire) of your eyebrows from inside to out using the coloured wax, next give your brows a sweeping of the wax to fix them in place and then using the other brush dust over the coloured powder. For perfect shaped brows see the photo below.

Kissable lips. I apply a tiny bit of Rodial Stemcell Lipbalm to make my lips look softer and fuller, as well as moisturizing them, which in this weather is a must. Then using Elizabeth Ardens Lip Pencil in Bare, I line my lips to make them look fuller, fill in with MACs lipstick in Yash, kiss a tissue and my lips are done.

Finally, a sweep of Rimmels bronzer, where we used the darker foundation, a slight touch of 17 blush on my cheek bones for a natural rosy look and a spritz of Versace Crystal Noir and I'm ready to go!

I hope this was helpful. What are your favourite beauty products/tips?