What's in my Make-Up Bag?!

I do so enjoy reading these sorts of posts on other peoples blogs because I love make-up (clearly) and so I thought it might be nice to do the same myself. This is by no means the limit of the make-up I own..tragically there's plenty more beauty products languishing away, unused in my bathroom. However, depending on the outfit and the season, there is a general rotation of items so the love is shared. Here's what's currently in use:

Firstly my make-up bag is Ted Baker- look how glittery and pretty it is!

Generally I always use either Ted Baker or Cath Kidston make-up bags as they tend to be made of strong, durable material and have that outer plastic covering that can be easily wiped down (as an aside, is there a worse combination of words than 'wipe down'? Other than 'moist crevice', obviously..answers below!), always handy. Also, this is extremely roomy, which is necessary for all the stuff I lug around. So here 'tis:

Face:

• Pre-moisturiser I use Bi-Serum from Clarins. I find it creates a lovely soft base for my foundation. HERE'S a full review of it.
• After moisturiser I put on a base of my Soleil Tan de Chanel (below), it gives a nice glow Winter or Summer. I usually work a light layer of it down my neck also, just for the sake of all my skin matching itself..that's the technical term by the way. I usually use some of this over foundation too to contour. 
• Depending on whether I'm wearing tan or not I use either Armani Designer Lift (Review HERE), Bourjois Healthy Mix (Review HERE) or Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation (FOTD *face of the day* HERE).
• Concealer wise, I use the Bobbi Brown Corrector and the Concealer set under my eyes and Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer (Review HERE) both on the under eye area and for any blemishes. At the moment I'm also trying to use up this Lancome Long-lasting Softening Concealer.

• Blush again depends on the rest of my make-up but a shade that never leaves my make-up bag is Nars Orgasm.
• Bronzer wise, I either use the Chanel Tan de Soleil or if I want an all over glow that doesn't take as long to blend in, I use YSL Terra Saharienne Collector edition Bronzing Powder (Review HERE).
• Highlighter is MAC MSF in Soft and Gentle.
• To set my foundation, I've been using Laura Mercier Invisible Loose Setting Powder (Review HERE).

Eyes:

• Eyebrows are the Sleek Brow Kit and Rimmel's Professional Eyebrow Pencil in Hazel. I then set my brows with Collection's Clear Mascara.

• I prime my eyes with the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion and over that I've been using Maybelline's 24 Hr Colour Tattoo shadow in Permanent Taupe and Bare Minerals loose bronze shadow a lot lately. The Naked Palette is a firm staple in my bag as well. At the moment I'm using Chanel's Long lasting kohl eyeliner (Review HERE), No.7 Stay Precise Felt Tip Liner (Review HERE) and YSL Shocking mascara, all in black.

Lips:

• I've been using a myriad of lip products lately: YSL Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain in 10, Dior Diorific in Marilyn (Review HERE), MAC in Rebel, YSL Rouge Pur Couture lipstick, Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey (Review HERE), a Lancome Juicy Tubes mini I got free with something and Eve Lom Kiss Mix Lip Balm (Review HERE).

• L to R: MAC Rebel, YSL Rouge Pur Couture, Dior Diorific in Marilyn, Kate Moss for Rimmel in 16.

Brushes:

• Lastly, these are all of my make up brushes, which I store in the pot I decorated myself (very proud) at the pottery decorating part of my hen, so I have happy memories every time I reach for a brush :)

It was arduous but we made it through together! As we're here, be sure to let me know in the comments if you have any of these products and what your own current make-up bag favourite is!

February Wish List

So this is what I'm currently lusting after..all I need now is a small lottery win and I'll be sorted. Anyways, here they are:

This rather beautiful red lace dress can be found online from Oasis HERE. It's very cute. I've been on the hunt for a decent New Girl-esque red dress so I can complete my transition into becoming Jessica Day and I think this is a pretty good match. Theres a cut-out detail on the back, lace bodice and full pleated skirt. Dreamy.

On sale at the moment is this Biba Embellished Kimono Tunic, which can be found HERE from House of Fraser. This is just the perfect dress to throw on now over a pair of tights with ankle boots and then in the Summer with bare legs and heels. I love Bibas designs, very cool, very retro.

Dior J'adore L'or Essence de Parfum, HERE from House of Fraser. Oh, this is such a beautiful perfume. The original J'adore was my wedding day perfume and is the perfect day time scent- I love it so much. Equally beautiful is this stronger, concentrated version of the original scent that lasts all day and manages to be a strong fragrance while still florally (it's a word!) and not overpowering. So lovely. And expensive. So I may just continue to show up at House of Fraser/Brown Thomas and sneak around while trying to get a spray of it without having to discuss the perfume for the millionth time with the sales assistant. Sigh. 

This sweet tweed and lace dress, from Warehouse (HERE) is easy to dress up or down but probably better suited to Winter what with the tweed element and all. Having said that, this would be very cute styled with a pair of bright heels in the Summer and a leather jacket. Lovely.

Also lovely perfume-wise is this offering from Agent Provocateur, Petale Noir which can be found HERE. This is a really lovely floral/fruity scent with an Oriental vibe. Strong but still a very feminine scent. Yum.

Obviously there's lots of make-up I'm after too- the Rimmel Apocalips look fab, I've been searching every Penneys I enter for the Essence Peel Off Base Coat so I can get my glitter on and I pretty much want ALL the Dior, Clarins and Nars products ever. So again, pretty much just holding out for that Lotto win. I'd love to know what's on everyone else's wishlist, so let me know in the comments!

Xxx

Very Mini Boots Haul

Is there anything greater than the sweet sound of "Would you like to use your Boots points to pay for this?" The answer is no, no there is not. Being on a self imposed spending ban but feeling pretty confident that I had enough Boots reward card points saved up to treat myself to the above with the addition of a couple of boring essentials was a nice way to start off the misery-month that is January.

This is a Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lip Stain in the shade 'Honey'. For some reason, although there'd been a lot of hype over these on the old Blogosphere (yes, that is a real thing), I had just assumed these would be too similar to Clinique's Chubby Sticks (read my review HERE), what with them both being all crayon-esque in appearance. Then I started seeing Revlon's offering pop up in a lot of "Best products of 2012" posts so I thought it was time to take a closer look..plus Boots had these on offer at half price at the time which was quite the incentive. So these are completely different to Chubby Sticks- not as waxy with a much greater colour payoff and I think these are a touch more moisturising too. Plus they smell of mint, which I like. This shade, Honey, is a lovely almost dusky-pink colour. Very impressed, definitely will be checking more of these out.

I'm a big Bourjois fan and already love their liquid pen eyeliner (which you can read about HERE) so I said I'd give this a go. This is Bourjois Queen Kohl Kajal liner and was 9.99, so already it's a big improvement price-wise on my Chanel kohl liner, which I'm almost at the end of. Firstly, how cool is that packaging?! It's a bit like a lipstick tube in how it twists upwards like that and the little ribbon on the lid, aside from being very cute, does mean that I'm more likely to find this easily whilst rummaging around in my handbag. Bourjois claim that it's cone-shaped for precision and can be used on the inner and outer rims of the eye. For me, this is just a good, solid kohl liner- it's long lasting and not the easiest to get off without a daycent eye make-up remover but for me that's a plus- it means it won't be smudging down around my eyes, resembling a forlorn looking panda. The formula is quite soft when applying so the gentle skin around the eyes isn't tugged at, which is also really important for me and my attempts at preventing crows feet. My only concern with this is what happens when the point of it gets worn down- am I just going to be left with a stumpy piece of liner?? That would be unfortunate.

Lastly, I picked up this Collection Glam Crystals gel liner, which was on offer at 2.39 (normally 4.79). Around Christmas-time Leona Lewis was on TV wearing some seriously sparkly eye shadow, which I was instantly drawn to, what with my magpie tendencies and all. As her make-up artist later revealed, it was only this glitter liner, in this shade but used all over the lid that gave the effect I so desired. This stuff is brilliant, easy to apply and once it's on it does not budge- so no glitter fall out all over your face like some sort of Ziggy Stardust reject. It comes in two other shades and is easily my favourite bargain of recent times. 

Here they all are swatched:

Left to Right: Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain, Bourjois Liner, Collection Glitter Liner

What do you think? Do you have any of these already? 

"You must allow me to tell you.."

If like me you love a bit of Pride and Prejudice then you'll recognise the famous quote on this here bone china mug, given to me by my rather fabulous husband:

On one side "You must allow me to tell you.." and on the other "How ardently I admire and love you". Oh Darcy. Swoon.
On the outside/bottom you can add your own message of love, which serves as a rather lovely pick-me-up to have a look at when you're not feeling great (top tip, avoid looking at the message on the bottom of the mug when mug is filled with hot tea). Although this was a gift, I know the same one can be found on notonthehighstreet.com. Personally, I feel the word ardently is not used often enough in daily conversation, I'm going to make it my mission to start using it more.."How ardently do I love this Terry's Chocolate Orange" or "How ardently I wish you would make me a cup of tea in my new mug, husband".
Furthermore, "Oh Lord, how ardently I adore this new lantern":

This was actually a Christmas present but I know it's from Ikea and they could well still have it in stock if you were to take a look around for it. I've been burning my mini cherry flavoured Yankee Candle in it, which is lovely but it'd be just as fab with a plain tea light in it. Cosy :)

New Jewelry!

I picked up these little beauties in Accessorize recently to wear for my sisters wedding..in the end neither the brooch nor the earrings went with the outfit but that's neither here nor there really. Granted the earrings are a little bling-tastic but my mission in life (where earrings are concerned, at least) is to compete with Pat Butcher..and win. They have a lovely vintage feel, combining pearls with crystals and silver roses:

The hummingbird brooch also has a really sweet vintage quality to it, which I am rather fond of in general and I think it'll look as well paired with a Winter coat as it will a plain black dress.

Lastly, this beautiful necklace which I received from my sister-in-law for Christmas features a little blue bird, perched on a branch, surrounded by little crystal flowers. I love this so. Clearly I have a bit of a thing for bird jewelry anyway but this is just so pretty and delicate and it goes with so much.

This one isn't actually from Accessorize, it's from an independent shop in the UK that I don't have the name of, as it was a present..I still wanted to show it to you though, apologies! :)