Saturday 13 December 2014

WHAT'S IN MY MAKE-UP BAG?

I love reading these kinds of posts, if anything they are probably my favourite kind of post to read. I love seeing what people choose as their staple products and it's probably the best way to get recommendations from people. I do change my make-up around a lot, depending on the look I'm going for and the amount of coverage I'm looking for. I probably won't include brushes as they can really vary,  but most of the times I use Real Techniques brushes. 





L'Oreal Paris Lumi Magique Base.
I've been loving the more dewy finish lately - I don't have particularly dry skin, it's more combination - and as of late my skin has had a few dry patches so something like this doesn't necessarily highlight those dry patches! It also leaves you with a gorgeous glowy finish once you've allowed it to settle in. I like to leave my primer for about 5-10 minutes to really sink into my skin. 

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation/Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum/MAC Studio Fix Fluid.
I don't use three foundations all at once but at the moment these are the ones I've been switching between. MAC Studio Fix Fluid (in NW20) is a staple for me, I love the coverage, the smell, the way it looks on my skin - I'm absolutely in love with this foundation. However it is pricey, so I have two drugstore foundations that I like to mix together - the Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation (in 200 Soft Beige) and Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum (in 53 Beige Clair). I mix a small amount of these together, directly on my face and buff them across my face. I've only done this a few times but I adored the results! It was full coverage, and had real staying power. I feel on it's own the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum is very low coverage for the amount that I like, but mixed with Rimmel Wake Me Up it was a whole new foundation.

MAC Mineralise Concealer.
This is the only concealer I've been using lately (and I tend to change up my concealers a lot) - on under eye circles, blemishes and as a highlighter - this is again in NW20. It's an amazing product! On good skin days I can just wear this and powder. Definitely a repurchase for me.

MAC Select Sheer Pressed Powder.
I adore this powder - even over the Rimmel Stay Matte powder. I went into MAC and asked what they recommended, and I was surprised that they didn't suggest the Studio Fix Powder, but I'm glad they didn't. This is the right amount for me, not too sheer and not too cakey - it gives the right amount of coverage. I love that the compact has a mirror and sponge too so I can apply on the go! I've found it's super buildable - especially when using the applicator sponge that you get with it, which is brilliant for me. 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit.
This product is an absolute GODSEND. Oh my God. I love it. Waiting for this palette to arrive was probably the worst two weeks of my life (I ordered from USA as I couldn't find it in the UK). All of the shades are refills, so you can repurchase each pan which is such a good idea. I love all three shades of contour although one is too cool toned for me but that's brilliant for when I'm doing other peoples make-up. I love the shade 'Java' for contouring, and I love the shade 'Banana' for setting underneath my eyes. This banana shade is the first yellow setting powder I've used for concealer and I can really, really see a difference. (Post coming soon on the entire ABH Contour Kit)

Soap and Glory Solar Powder Bronzer.
I've seen so many people rave about this product and after using some other S&G make-up products I was expecting miracles. The bronzer has two tones - one really bronzed, one a bit more sunkissed and natural. Admittedly, it's not as pigmented as I'd hoped, but the two tones mixed together on your skin really create a natural bronzed glow. I don't necessarily use this to contour unless I want something a lot more natural, but this is brilliant for a nice, natural look rather than a full on contoured, bronze goddess.

Benefit Rockateur Blush.
This product is amazing - it's my first box blusher/bronzer from Benefit and I will be buying more for sure! I'm not even close to hitting pan yet and I use this every single time I wear make-up. It's a gorgeous glowy rose gold blusher with tiny bits of shimmer in it, so it can double as a highlighter. Brilliant when you're on the go!

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz.
This brow product is amazing, it's double ended, one with a spooly and the other with a pencil/crayon. I have the brow wiz in Medium Brown (yes, I'm a blonde, but I have roots and they are dark!) I love this product, I actually can't do any make-up without filling in my brows now! It's funny how within the last year or so I've started really taking care of my eyebrows when I never used to care about them! Now I look back at pictures and I'm like 'Sophie! Where are your eyebrows!?'. This product is amazing, a good dupe for this is the Soap and Glory Brow Archery but the nib on this is a lot thinner which makes it easier to apply thin, hair like strokes. 

Eylure Brow Control and Shape Gel.
Eylure have recently launched a brow range after being notorious for their amazing eyelashes. This is only the second brow gel I've tried (the other was Rimmel Brow This Way) and I've found this is so much better, not as thick or wet. I found the Brow This Way quite goopy and this one is nowhere near as thick.

Rimmel Scandaleyes Kohl Kajal in Nude.
I love this pencil - I haven't recently been using much eyeliner, however I've been using a white/nude eyeliner in my waterline to really open up the eyes. Theres not really much to say about this eyeliner, it's creamy and longlasting. Really worth the price.

Make-Up Revolution Iconic 2 Palette.
I don't always carry this in my make-up bag and I quite often switch up between the Iconic palettes, but I quite often change between palettes or substitute bronzers, blushers and even highlighters for eyeshadows. These palettes by Make-Up revolution are so cheap compared to the Urban Decay Naked palettes, and the colour pigmentation and staying power are amazing. I actually used their eyeshadows for a live performance last week and they lasted all night under the stage lights.

Benefit They're Real Mascara.
This mascara is my staple mascara, I've used it every single day since I purchased it in August. It's got a really thick wand, covered head to toe in bristles, and the end has it's own little bristles in order to coat shorter lashes like the ones at the end or bottom lashes. It's jet black and lasts all day. The mascara is really buildable when it's wet, so get as much on as possible as quick as you can.

Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless.
This is the best drugstore mascara in the shops at the minute, it's perfect for making your lashes look super long and separated. It's amazing at giving that amazing doe-eyed look and really makes your lashes stand out!

Rimmel Lasting Finish 1000 Kisses Lipliner.
I've been wearing just this on my lips lately in the shade 011 spice. It's a gorgeous brown-nude shade. I use it to slightly overline my lips and then fill them in this colour and it's got amazing staying power for such an affordable price. I have quite a few Rimmel lipliners but I'm trying to build my liner collection as I've fallen in love with them very quickly.

Models Own Eyelash Curler.
I can't go anywhere without curling my eyelashes, make-up or no make-up. It really makes you look awake. I use the Models Own curler, they are still really stiff after so long meaning that they create an amazing curl compared to an older and less stiff eyelash curler. 

Nivea Lip Butter.
I have a couple of these but the original is my favourite by far. I tend to switch up my lip balms but I always end up going back to this one. Its really moisturising and clear, so adds no colour. It's perfect for prepping my lips for lip colour.

This is what's in my make-up bag at the moment, although I tend to switch it up sometimes depending on the day or what I'm doing that day.

What are your staple products in your make-up bag?