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?

Sleek Make Up - Summer Ready Skin.

As I've got older my skin has become much clearer, scars I had from my teens have almost vanished and I'm much more confident when it comes to my skin and only wear makeup if  I'm going out. With that said I do still get breakouts occasionally.

I'm sure many of you can agree that with the warmer weather comes clearer skin and the need for foundation lessens. With summer approaching fast I decided I wanted to find a lighter wear foundation that still provided  some coverage, in case of a breakout. I'm pleased to say I found it.

Having olive skin I have always found getting the right foundation very difficult so always stuck to my Rimmel one but it's rather heavy and I was desperate for something lighter. I decided it was time to do a thorough investigation into the foundations available in Boots and was dissapointed by the lack of choices, the darker ones would have left me looking orange whilst the lighter foundations suddenly become very pink. I am so glad Boots now stock Sleek Make-Up.

I've been using the Sleek Make-Up brow palette for several months now and I honestly couldn't live without it, it's amazing. I also own the lip palette which has four gorgeous long lasting and moistursing colours so I decided it was time to buy some more of their products and I'm so glad I did.

The foundations go on brilliantly. They're light, smooth and blend so well, meaning you can highlight and contour without any lines and also mix the two colours to create the perfect shade. This foundation left my skin looking so dewy yet flawless and lasted all day without going greasy. As it isn't very thick the cover obviously is fantastic but it evened out the skin, covered small blemishes and for any imperfections that weren't covered by the foundation I simply used concealer.

After applying my foundation I used the contour kit. Not a lot of powder is needed on the brushes as it's visible almost immediately meaning you don't end up looking caked up and powdery. First I used the darker powder for contouring, it is fairly dark so be careful, for best results I apply my powder last so that my foundation has fully soaked in meaning I don't end up with a dark patch where my brush first touched my face.

Next I highlighted. This powder is almost translucent which is great as it doesn't effect the colour of your foundation, however it does have quite a bit of shine so just a very light dusting will do. I highlight last as I can then dust over the edge of my contouring to create an even more subtle merging and remove any harsh lines.

Foundations, £8.99 - Shell & Praline

Contour Kit, £6.49 - Light

Brow Kit, £8.49 - Dark

Lip Palette, £8.99 - Ballet

Sleek Make-Up really is amazing and I can't wait to buy some more of their products. This foundation is definitely my new favourite and I wouldn't be able to live without my brow kit. All their products are at fantastic prices and not only work great but look great too. The "sleek" black packaging is just my style and each foldable piece has it's own mirror! I have been taking my essentials out with me in this gorgeous makeup bag from Next, it's the perfect size and I love the colour.

Have you tried any Sleek products yet?

Glamour Magazine Balance Me Freebies.

So this happened. 

I very rarely buy magazines unless an article or a freebie entices me as I struggle to find the time to read them. In this particular instance four freebies caught my eye, so of course I had to get them all. I'm in no means saying that this is a bad thing., four products worth £41 for just £8, what's bad about that? It's just I now have four magazines, exactly the same, which does looks kind of odd, but hey who cares?!

Now GLAMOUR is by far my favourite magazine to read whenever I do decide to buy one. It's great value for money, has fantastic reads from fashion and health, to relationships and careers, plus it has some amazing free gifts.

Last year I used the Balance Me Super Toning Body Wash, also free from a magazine, and I remembered how much I loved it so I was eager to try all four of the products that were up for grabs this time. Available this month with GLAMOUR for just £2 is the Super Moisturising Body Wash, Pure Skin Face Wash, Radiance Face Mask and Shine On Tinted Lip Salve in Sheer Red.

I AM IN LOVE! All four of these products are amazing and I am very happy to be sharing this review with you guys!

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The Body Wash
This gel like product has a natural scent to it that is really refreshing and it lathers up well so you don't need to use a lot. It's really sensitive and soothing on the skin and after using it my skin felt really soft and clean. Over the past few days of using it I've notice my skin doesn't appear as dry. All in all a really good product. Buy Online Here, £9

The Face Wash
This face wash is a white cream with a similar scent to the body wash. It's a lovely product that spreads well meaning you only need a really small amount as it goes a long way. I have sensitive skin and this product was so gentle and soothing upon use and afterwards didn't leave my skin feeling tight or dry. Being a contact wearer I also have to be careful with products near my eyes but this caused no irritation or discomfort at all. I've used this product for five days now and my skin feels very smooth and I've had no outbreaks. A great skin soother. Buy Online Here, £16

The Face Mask
As I've mentioned in the past I very rarely use face masks but I'd had a slight breakoutbreak after last weekends nightout so I decided to see if this would help at all. This facemask is an exfoliating cream that doesn't dry, it simply soaks in to your skin slightly and then upon removal the ground walnut shell particles gently massage and exfoliate the skin leaving it with a fresh healthy glow. My pores appeared less visible and my skin felt smoother and not as oily. The next day my spots had dried up and were clearly less visible. A five minute miracle worker. Buy Online Here, £18

The Lip Salve
I never wear lip glosses but this little beauty has been in my bag everyday now since purchase. The red colouring is only a shade darker than my natural lip once on so looks very natural whilst still adding that hint of colour. It soaks in leaving the lips feeling and looking moisturised without that sticky or wet look you get with other glosses. It has a lovely minty taste and makes the lips look fuller, A handbag must have. Buy Online Here, £12

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Now here is the part where I would usually tell you which product is the best and which one you should pick up but I just can't, for £8 seriously just buy them all if you can!

Have you tried any Balance Me products?

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?

Elizabeth Arden All Day Chic.

So I finally got around to using everything in this super gorgeous collection by Elizabeth Arden which I got for Christmas. When on offer, you can pick up this vanity set for £50 when bought with another Elizabeth Arden product, unfortunately when it isn't on offer it will cost you £330! I think its safe to say it's worth waiting until the offers.

However, if you're anything like me and don't like waiting, here is a review of the products so you can pick which ones you really want.

I'll start with the Eye Shadow and Blusher Pallets. I don't really wear eye shadow and I especially don't wear it in bright colours, so you can imagine my shock upon opening the cases and immediately spotting a blue one among the beautiful nudes and pinks, each with just a slight sparkle, but of course I still tried it and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. Rather than the bright blue it looks in the case It comes out in more of a silver/gunmetal colour, which actually looks really nice with a bold flick of eyeliner. The blushers are also lovely but have slightly too much sparkle for the day time in my opinion, but look gorgeous in the evening and will be perfect in the day time during summer with a good tan. These Pallets are great and I love the quality.

The Mascara. Not much to say on this product except it's brilliant. Coated my lashes beautifully without any clumps and it remained in place all day with no smudging or crumbling, despite me being at the gym.

Next is the pencils. These Lip and Eyeliners are amazing, they go on perfectly and are long lasting. The first eyeliner is in Gun Metal, which is simply an off black colour and looks great for a daytime look or if you're going to focus on a dramatic lip. The Smokey Black is well, as it says, a black eyeliner that has just the right amount of smudge to create that smokey eye we all love.The first lip pencil is in Sugared Kiss and is a sort of bronze colour and the second, Bare, which is my personal favourite, is a dark nude with a slight dusky rose colouring to it.

For the lips, this set included four Beautiful Colour Moisturising Lipsticks and two Lip Glosses. Now, as lovely as the lipsticks are to apply and they are moisturising, I must say I'm dissapointed by their staying power, especially for their price. I particularly noticed the fading with the two darker colours, Red Door Red and Ultra Violet. The other two colours I didn't notice it with as much, Dessert Rose which has quite a sparkle to it and my favourite Breathless which is a slightly darker, rosier version of my natural lip. The pocket sized lip glosses are lovely.. and they taste great! They aren't too sticky and the darker one, Passion Fruit, leaves a nice bit of colour unlike most lip glosses. The lighter shade is Precious Petal, it doesn't have much colour but it does leave a nice shine.

Wow! The All Gone Eye and Lip Makeup Remover is fantastic. It removes even waterproof makeup with ease and doesn't require you to scrub at your skin. The oily texture leaves the eye area soothed and it doesn't sting either unlike some makeup removers.

This set was such a beautiful gift and I absolutely love my new beauty products, plus I got three super cute brushes with it and a stunning red vanity case.

Do you use any Elizabeth Arden products?

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?