What's In My Holiday Make-Up Bag?

As this post goes live I will be 30000 feet up in the air on my way to Valencia, Spain. I am taking a little 5 day mini break to the city with my sister after a stressful few weeks of exams where we can explore the city, relax on the beach, get some sunshine and of course drink plenty of sangria and eat far too much tapas.

My sister and I only have a suitcase between us which means I need to pack light (FYI, I am really not very good at packing light) and everything that goes into the suitcase is probably going to have a vigorous screening process by my sister followed by a few 'you don't need that', 'you won't use this' and 'we're not taking them'. I think there is going to have to be a little bit of sneaking things in the suitcase when her back his turned as think she will not understand why I need 2 mascaras, 3 concealers and 6 lipsticks for 5 days...

Firstly the make-up bags I am taking is this beautiful deep purple Saffiano leather DKNY bag which will hold all my make-up essentials, I am then taking this New York print white canvas bag also DKNY as my overflow make-up bag which holds my brushes, my Naked palette, perfume, nail varnish and other bits and bobs.

Starting with the purple bag I am taking: my Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser in Porcelain and also a sample sized of the shade darker (Nude) to mix in if I tan, Collection Lasting Perfection concealer in Fair, MaxFactor Colour Correct stick for under eye circles, Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat, MAC blush in Taupe Shape (which I use as bronzer), Nars Deep Throat blusher, Rimmel Stay Matte powder, Laura Mercier Long Lash mascara, Chanel Le Volume De Chanel mascara, Maybelline Gel Liner in black, Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Bronze on Bronze, MAC eyeshadow duo of Omega and Concrete which I use for my brows and Natural Collection clear mascara which I also use for my brows.

And finally I am taking the following lipsticks: MAC Patisserie, Topshop Brighton Rock, Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in 05, Rimmel Apocalips in Across the Universe and L'Oreal Liquid Lipstick in 500 Molto Mauve. 

The white bag will hold my brushes and tools which get too squished in the purple bag, the original Naked palette, my Jo Malone perfume in English Pear and Freesia, the nail varnish on my toes which is Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine in 416 Papaya, a few bits of jewelery and some hair accessories. 

For brushes I am taking: Real Techniques Stippling, Expert Face, Deluxe Crease and Base Shadow brushes, MAC 239, 217, 263 and 129, Topshop Large Shadow and Angled Brow brush, Bare Minerals Soft Sweep Cheek brush, Bobbi Brown Foundation Brush, an ELF Spoolie and Charlotte Tilbury Eyelash Curlers. 

That ended up being a long post! Reading back through this post maybe this is a bit excessive for 5 days, I'll let you know when I get back if my bossy sister made me leave anything behind... 

January Favourites

Jess and I have decided to start doing a Monthly Favourites Post and a Monthly Wishlist Post. We will take it in turns to do one of the posts each month. For February I will do the January Favourites Post and Jess will do a February Wishlist Post. Here is my list of favourite products for the month of January.

Urban  Decay  Makeup  Palette -

I got the Urban Decay Naked Palette for Christmas and I'm so happy with it. I don't have any of the Naked Palettes so I decided to ask for the original and then hopefully I'll build up my collection. The Palette contains 12 gorgeous eyeshadow shades and I know I will get some good use out of most of them. My favourite shades at the moment are Sin, Sidecar, Half Baked and Toasted. 

Swatches:- Sin, Sidecar, Half Baked, Toasted

Buy the Urban Decay Naked Palette here:-  http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores

Nars Creamy  Concealer -

I originally bought this because Jess recommended it to me and said it was amazing so I purchased it from the Nars counter in Selfridges and I absolutely love it. This is one of the best concealers I've ever tried as I can get quite bad blemishes on my skin and this covers them up so well. I love the thick texture of the concealer and it comes in a wide range of colours too. I have the colour custard which blends in really well with my Nars Sheer Matte Foundation in Fiji.
Buy the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer here :- http://www.selfridges.com/en/Beauty/Categories/The-Selfridges-edit

Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien -

I posted about this Lip Pencil in one of our Christmas blogs when me and Jess bought ourselves a little Christmas treat. It is so easy to use and even though it is a pencil it feels moisturising and doesn't dry out my lips. The beautiful rose pink colour is so wearable and it's great for an easy day time look. I already have the colour Yu and I want to buy so many other colours.
Buy the Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien here:- http://uk.spacenk.com/satin-lip-pencil/MUS300023951.html

Essie Nail Varnish in It's Genius -

Essie nail varnish is a relatively recent discovery of mine but once I tried it I was converted. They come in such a wide range of gorgeous colours and my collection is slowly building up. I find their nail varnishes don't chip as easily as most nail varnishes do for me and the nail varnishes have really cute names as well. It's Genius is a beautiful shimmery violet quartz purple colour with brown undertones and this colour really brightened up my nails in January.
Buy the Essie It's Genius Nail Varnish here:- http://www.boots.com/en/Essie-Nail-Polish-Its-Genius-13-5ml_1343386/

Benefit Porefessional -

I received the Benefit Porefessional Primer as a present from my cousin for Christmas. I had a sample of this once but it was one of those products that I just forgot about so I was so happy when I got this. It came in a little set with a brightening primer and an eye cream too which was good. I love this product because there is a recognizable difference as soon as you use it, it smooths out the skin and covers pores because of the flesh coloured formula. Also what I like about this product is a little goes a long way and you don't have to use much for it to take full effect.
Buy the Benefit Porefessional Set here:- http://www.lookfantastic.com/benefit-pretty-porefect-set

Dermalogica Active Moist -

As I've been having problems with breakouts which led to me using drying products on my face recently I went to a local salon to see if there were any products that could help with my problems of both breakouts and dryness. I had a Dermalogica skin consultation and one of the products that was recommended to me was Dermalogica Active Moist. This moisturiser is great because although it helps add moisture it isn't thick and it's oil free therefore it doesn't cause breakouts on the skin and it doesn't feel heavy. I've found it has actually helped with some of my breakouts. However this product is quite expensive for quite a small tube. Overall this product has really helped my skin since I've used it and I would use it again.
Buy the Dermalogica Active Moist Moisturiser here:- http://www.dermalogica.co.uk/uk/html/products/active-moist-14.html

Charlotte Tilbury Makeup Bag -

This gorgeous makeup bag was a Christmas present from Jess and I love it so much. It's a great size so you can fit so much in it and the design is great too. It has red lipstick marks on the front and then a quote on the back saying "Give a woman the right make-up & she can conquer the world", a spin on a Marilyn Monroe quote about shoes. This makeup bag would be perfect for travelling with because of the size and it's made of canvas. It also had the Charlotte Tilbury logo in gold on the front. I hope this is the first item in what I hope will be my huge Charlotte Tilbury makeup collection.
Buy the Charlotte Tilbury Make-up Bag here:- http://www.selfridges.com/en/Beauty/

Wildfox 'It Could Happen' Jumper - 

This was another present that I got for Christmas and it is one of my favourite items of clothing for January. It is a black baggy jumper, a welcome essential in my wardrobe, and it has white sequins stitched on the bottom in the shape of the Manhattan skyline. I have 2 Wildfox T-Shirts and I love the Wildfox Brand because their slogans and designs are current and fun. I also love the name of the jumper 'It Could Happen' associated with New York and Manhattan, one of my favourite places in the world.  I can tell I am going to get a lot of use out of this jumper.
Buy the Wildfox It Could Happen Jumper here:- http://www.wildfoxcouture.com/it-could-happen-school-girl-vneck-sweater

Girls - 

My favourite TV Show for January is the HBO series Girls. I'd heard some good reviews about this show but I only started watching it this January and I think it's hilarious. I've managed to watch every episode in January so I'm up to date with the live episodes now. I think Lena Dunham is amazing for portraying Girls differently and in a realistic way and I love the fact that it's set in New York too. Each week I can't wait for the next episode to be aired so I can watch it. 

What were your favourites in January?

Blogmas Day 1: All I Want For Christmas...

Welcome to Blogmas! I will try my very very best to blog everyday of December all the way up to Christmas day with gift ideas, outfit ideas, what I get up to in the run up to Christmas and much much more. Christmas is definitely my favourite time of year and I am feeling more and more festive every day, I have had the Christmas countdown app on my phone for a couple of weeks now and check it religiously every day! Last week I sent my Christmas list off to Father Christmas (aka my mother) and here is what I asked for: 

Links of London Friendship Bracelet 
http://www.linksoflondon.com/gb-en/online-shop/women/bracelets/11409-friendship-bracelet---pewter-&-white-double-wrap

This will be my main present for Christmas and the only one I know I am definitely getting, I need a new bracelet  this year as I lost my beloved Tiffany one earlier this year in the Lake District – Note to self: expensive bracelets and hiking do not go well together.

Urban Decay Naked Palette http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Urban+Decay+Naked+Palette/151534794,default,pd.html

I think my make-up collection is definitely lacking a Naked Palette and would be a perfect gift as I never pluck up the courage to splash out on it for myself.

Liz Earle Brightening Treatment Mask Starter Kit
http://www.johnlewis.com/liz-earle-brightening-treatment-mask-starter-kit-50ml/p231417734

I am really into Liz Earle at the minute and this mask will really help brighten my dull winter complexion.

Jemma Kidds Make Up Masterclass - £14.85
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jemma-Kidd-Make-Up-Masterclass/dp/1906417296/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_har?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1383858380&sr=1-1&keywords=jemma+kidd+make-up

I already have the Bobbi Brown Make-Up Manual which I love so I thought this would be perfect to add to the collection.

Juice Cube, Pink - £24.95
http://www.johnlewis.com/store/juice-cube-emergency-mobile-charger/p231907817?colour=Black&navAction=jump&_requestid=261577

This has useful useful useful written all over it. A little cube which you charge up and put in your handbag and use to recharge your phone if you run out of battery when your on the go.

DKNY Purple Cosmetics Bag 
http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/DKNY+Saffiano+purple+cosmetic+bag/183554673,default,pd.html#BVRRWidgetID

I have a confession to make, I wrote this post a couple of days ago and just as I was about to publish I checked the links to make sure they worked and I saw that the make-up bag had been reduced from £50 to £35. I therefore snapped it up and has consequently been removed from Santa's letter but I still thought I would include it anyway as I will get my mum to wrap it up and put it under the tree. A gift to me from me.  

Charlotte Tilbury Vintage Vamp Eye Quad
http://www.charlottetilbury.com/the-vintage-vamp/luxury-palette-the-vintage-vamp.html

Finally, ever since the Charlotte Tilbury range came out I have tried to avoid the ‘Add To Basket’ button on the Selfridges website and I resisted! I love every single bit of the collection and had to really think about what I was going to ask for but in the end I chose the eye palette with lots of intense, deep, warm colours. 

What's on your Christmas list this year?