Handbag Must Haves

The busy girls guide to on the go product necessities...

Preparation is key to always looking flawless, you never know where the day might take you and you have to be prepared for all eventualities, by that I mean rain or last minute drinks with the girls after work, I'm not talking survival kit here - just the beauty basics.

No product delivers a hair refresh quite like the Living Proof Instant Texture Mist, if your hair is anything like mine then after an eight hour stint at work it certainly is not looking quite its best, I say embrace the boho vibe - spritz in a little of this magic spray and work it in with your fingers, I promise this will bring your hair back to life, think volume, texture, that little something something that makes the boys heads turn. This feels super lightweight on the hair and delivers a perfect balance of bounce, definition and separation. It is also worth noting that this formula is free from silicones, parabens and sulphates. Next time you pop into your local Space NK treat your hair to a spritz of this.

Another product I cannot stop spritzing is The Body Shop's Fuji Green Tea Eau de Cologne, this fresh sexy summer scent is a recent launch so as you can imagine I have been dowsing myself in this daily for work, It is a classic sophisticated citrus fresh fragrance that is wearable for both day and night with notes of green tea, bergamot, lemon, mandarin and jasmine. The rest of the range is equally as exciting with body sorbets, scrubs and even bath tea - definitely worth checking out.

If I had to choose one product to carry with me at all times I would have to opt for a pressed translucent powder - it is hardly an exciting product choice but believe me it is an essential, my skin type is oily so in a bid to control excess oil I purchased the Rimmel stay matte powder, the formula is fine and very natural looking on the skin, I just stipple this onto my T zone to banish shine, I like to keep my cheeks powder free to keep that glowy radiant healthy looking sheen.

If you emptied the contents of my handbag out I can assure you that you would discover about ten different lip products, from balms, to scrubs to liners my bag is full of them, for the purposes of this post however I will only discuss my very bare essentials so I have whittled it down to three lip laquers and two lip liners. Without a doubt the best lip liners on the high street are the Rimmel Exaggerate Liners, these retractable creamy liners are perfect for creating a full dramatic look. My two favourite shades are East End Snob - a cool toned matte light pink and Addiction - a more neutral tones nude. Both shades are very wearable and compliment my skin tone nicely. If I want more of a colour pop I normally opt for a Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lip- these are very pigmented and have the finish of a satin liquid lipstick with incredible staying power. My all time favourite shade is Frambourjois - a rich deep raspberry hue with warm undertones, this is so flattering and works well with classic cat eye liner and lashings of mascara. Another Velvet Lip hue I have recently been loving is Peach Club - a warm apricot shade, this looks great with a dramatic smoky eye. For more of a day time look I like to use the Bourjois Aqua Laque in the shade Appechissant - a glossy neutral pink with an intense high shine. All three have a lovely easy to use applicator that is always loaded with product.

So there you have it - my beauty basics for busy girls on the go. Have you tired any of these must haves yet?

Disclaimer - Although I work for The Body Shop this in no way effects my opinion.

Day to Night

Subtle styling changes can take a pretty floral dress from day to night...

I picked up this dress from Bershka a couple of weeks ago, it has a super pretty floral print that is easy to dress up or down, for a more casual event such as lunch with friends I paired this dress with a Topshop leather jacket and my H&M black heels, the leather adds another dimension to the outfit giving it a tougher edge. For the evening look I wore the dress with my vintage fur wrap and a pretty clutch from a charity shop, I also went for a dark lip to keep with the old Hollywood glamour theme.

Dress - Bershka

Jacket - Topshop

Bag - Charity Shop

Fur Wrap - Vintage

Shoes - H&M

Earrings - Brighton Laines 

Lipstick - Rimmel 107

Nails - The Body Shop Minty Amour

How would you style this dress?

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipsticks

As far as lipsticks go I think once you find a formula that you get on with you should invest in all the shades you like, that is what I am trying to do with the Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipsticks, for me these sum up everything I want in a lipstick, they are super pigmented, non-drying, long lasting, and moisturising all in one little product, these are so reasonably priced too and are often on three for two in Boots and Superdrug.

Currently I have the shades Coral Britannia, a gorgeous pale coral shade that is slightly metallic, Mayfair Red Lady, classic pillar box red with a hint of raspberry. Oxford Street Fuchsia, an incredibly girly cool pink shade that looks amazing with a neutral eye and bronzer and lastly Let's Get Naked, the perfect nude lipstick, it is my go to for work days, and paired with winged liner looks oh so 60's inspired. 

I can't wait to add more to my collection, I feel like I am missing a deep purple shade, any recommendations ladies?

The Four Product Face

We've all had that horrible feeling when we wake up and realize we have overslept, it is moments like this when you need a make up routine that will take a matter of seconds to apply. If you are in a rush or just want a low key natural look I would really recommend Rimmel London's BB Cream, this is a recent purchase that I just cannot get enough of, it feels so lightweight on the skin but the coverage is actually really good, this evens out my skin tone, and gives it the right amount of radiance, I have the shade medium and find it to be a good match. For under eyes I've been loving Rimmel's Wake Me Up concealer, this is super brightening and is also great for blemishes so a great two in one. My brows are always in need of a neaten after a nights sleep and Maybellines' Brow Drama is perfect for a quick groom, I find the shade 'dark brown' a great match for me, this product is prefect for adding a hint of colour and keeping brows in place. Lastly is lips, if you are trying to keep things natural then I recommend a simple lip balm so your lips look in good condition without going overboard on colour. Classic Carmex Lip Balm moisturises and nourishes the lips without feeling sticky so it's perfect for a low key look.

The Bold Lip Everyday Face

When it comes to a bold bright red lip for the daytime I like to keep the rest of my make up minimal, for this look the red lip in question is none other than Rimmel Moisture Renew in Mayfair Red Lady, the formula of these lipsticks are great for daytime, they are bold and creamy and keep your lips looking hydrated as well as being incredibly pigmented. I am definitely going to be picking up a few more shades from this range.

For my base I stuck to my current favourite foundation Bourjois Happy Light in shade 53, the coverage is medium, I apply this with my Real Techniques Buffing Brush for a flawless finish and then complete my base with Rimmel's Wake Me Up Concealer, I am currently on the hunt for a new concealer for under the eyes so let me know in the comments if you have any recommendations. To contour I used my old friend Nars Laguna Bronzer, the colour of this bronzer really suits my skin tone and gives me a natural warm shadow in the hollows of my cheeks, I pair this with M.A.C's Mineralize Skin Finish in Soft and Gentle, this is the prettiest powder I own and when applied to the cheekbones it gives the most gorgeous glow.

For my eyes I kept it simple with the Bourjois 24 hour Colour Eyeshadow in Or Desir on my lids, this cream to powder finish lasts all day even without primer, and it has a lovely metallic finish which you can build up to be as bold as you like, for this look I also used Bourjois' Liquid Eyeliner in Brown as I find it looks better than black for daytime. To frame my face I used my HD Brows Palette along with a new brow product I am currently testing, the Maybelline Brow Drama in Dark Brown, I haven't quite made my mind up about this yet, it is very subtle so I do find myself still using powder but the brush does help to create a very natural look. 

Have you tried any of the Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipsticks yet? Do you have a favourite shade?

A Little Update

I have been so busy with work during the festive period it hasn't left much time for me to dedicate to my little blog lately so I thought I would give you an update. Recently Luca and I went to Jamie's Italian in Brighton for dinner, we chose from the Christmas menu and the food was absolutely gorgeous. I wore my Asos velvet smock dress which I am in love with, I think it is the perfect winter dress. Make up wise I went for a neutral eye with a bold lip using 107 from the Kate Moss collection from Rimmel London. As for accessorizes I took my trusty Whistles clutch that goes with just about anything and a butterfly wing pendant that I made, I am thinking of selling these if anyone is interested, they come in so many beautiful colours and they were inspired bu Damien Hurst's butterfly room at the Tate Modern last summer.

What have you been up to lately?

The Winter Make Up Bag

Like most girls I like to carry my make up essentials with me so I can freshen up my complexion during the day or take my make up from day to night, so I thought I would let you in on my current on the go must haves, lets start with the base, I have been loving Bourjois Happy Light foundation (review here) recently, it gives such a flawless finish to the skin and shade 53 suits me perfectly. I rarely need to use this during the day but I know the day I don't take it will be the day I need it, as you can tell I have become rather attached to the latest addition to my foundation family.

Something I do use without fail is the Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer, this really brightens my under eye area and definitely makes me look more awake. The Body Shops Energizing Facial Spritz is another must, this re-freshes my base and stops it looking cakey - this can happen if I layer new product over old product or if I use too much. To finish my base and keep oil at bay I powder my t-zone with Bourjois Java Rice Powder (review here) this works wonders on the skin.

For a little colour I like to use a lip product, a lot easier than trying to create a dramatic smokey eye in the office, for a natural look I like Revlon's Balm Stain in Rendezvous, for a little more drama I use Rimmel's Kate Moss Lipstick in 107, the perfect sexy deep red that looks so chic with cat eye style liner. 

What are your on the go must haves? 

The October Favourites

I have not really done a monthly favourites post before, probably because I find it hard to condense things down to a blog post size amount, this month however there are a few products that have really stood out for me mostly because they are products that I have rediscovered in my stash. First up lets start with Beauty:

Mac Face and Body foundation, this lightweight base had fallen to the back of my draw so to speak but with the weather change and it's effect on my skin I have dug this back out and I am in love! The finish of this foundation is so perfect, it isn't too heavy and I find it to be really radiant and glowy. Next is the Sleek Blush Trio palette in Lace, it contains three gorgeous shades, two matte and one shimmery, these are really well pigmented and give a long lasting finish. Rimmels Scandaleyes Kohl Liner in black has been reintroduced into my make-up bag for taking my make-up from day to night, it lasts really well and unlike other pencil liners I have used it doesn't run.

Haircare wise I have been loving these three miniatures, from a recent Glossy Box it is the Toni and Guy Shine Gloss Serum, if I want a sleeker do it apply this to the lengths of my hair pre-blow dry for a chic finish. For a messier look I have been using Bumble and Bumbles Thickening Hairspray and their Bb Texture hair un-dressing creme to give my hair some oomph and a little texture.

What products stood out for you in October? 

The Everyday Face

Once in a while I get stuck in a make up rut where I only wear the same few products, this is either due to sheer laziness or it means I have found some amazing products that I simply cannot live without, and with this weeks everyday face it is the latter. For a normal working day I like to keep things to a minimum, meaning a light base, a hint of natural colour on cheeks and lips and a little eye definition with mascara.

I have been using the Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream in medium, this gives a lovely light coverage and evens out any bits of uneven skin tone, alongside the BB cream I have been loving Rimmel's Wake Me Up concealer, this is perfect for covering up dark circles under the eyes. For a hint of colour on my cheeks I have been reaching for Bourjois Cream Blush in Healthy Glow, really lovely subtle and wearable everyday colour. For lips I have been using my YSL lipstick in the shade Golden Melon, a gorgeous shimmery coral colour that has a satin finish. Finally to add some eye definition I have been using Max Factor's False Lash Effect Mascara which gives a really natural fluttery look to my lashes. I am really liking this product combination at the moment. Most of the products mentioned have full reviews already on my blog which I will link below -

Max Factor Mascara
Garnier BB Cream
YSL Golden Melon Lipstick 
Bourjois Cream Blush

What are your current everyday face must haves?

 

Beauty Icons: Marilyn Monroe

When it comes to beauty inspiration, Marilyn Monroe is up there with the greats. As well as being in probably my most favourite movie ever 'Some Like It Hot' she is also a huge inspiration for me when it comes to putting make up on. No one can pull a red lip off quite like Marilyn did, with her feline like eyeliner and perfectly groomed eyebrows she always managed to look flawless. In an ode to Marilyn I thought I would show you the products I use to re-create this classic sexy look:

Base - To start with I prep my skin with M.A.C's Fortified Skin Enhancer, this illuminator makes a perfect layer for my foundation to go onto, for foundation I am really loving the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk in the shade 4, this gives perfect coverage that lasts all night and as it contains no SPF it doesn't give the ghost face if flash photography is used making it perfect for nights out. For concealing I love the Collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer, this is great for blemishes and the under eye area. Powder wise I have recently been using the Sleek Luminous pressed powder compact. This helps to keep the shine at bay and set my make up in place.

Eyes - For the perfect cat eye I love the L'Oreal Super Liner in black, the felt tip like pen makes the cat eye easy. After curling my my lashes with the Shu Uemura curlers I apply the Collection 2000 Dolled Up Mascara, this gives a lovely curl and volume to my lashes.

Contour - I really only use one bronzing powder and that is the Nars Laguna powder, this gives my face some definition and enhances those not existent cheekbones.For a bit of highlight I like M.A.C's Mineralized Skin Finish in Soft and Gentle, a cult product that just gives the most gorgeous glow to the skin.

Lips - The lips are definitely the most important part of this classic look, I can't get enough of the Kate Moss Rimmel London Lasting Finish Lipstick in 107, this deep red really suits my skin tone and as the product title suggests it really does stay put.

I really think this look suits everyone, whether your fair or dark.



Who is your beauty inspiration?

Everyday Face

Just thought I would do a little post about the make-up that makes the cut for the 'Everyday Face'. I work five days a week and don't get home until after six so long lasting make-up is a must for me. I also go the gym after work and don't want to look too done up so this is a pretty basic "no make up" look.

For my base I start with Revlon's Nearly Naked Foundation in the shade natural beige, I apply this with my fingers and the Real Techniques Buffing brush for a my skin but better finish. This foundation is low to medium coverage and it is buildable. It evens out my skin tone nicely. If I am looking particularly tired then I like to use Rimmel's Wake Me Up Concealer which I find illuminates my under eyes and makes me look alot more human.

I like to fill my eyebrows in a little with the HD Brows palette using the shade Rich Brown, I find a stronger eyebrow look really suits me and helps to frame my face, on the lashes I just put a few slicks of the L'Oreal Telescopic Waterproof Mascara to make my eyes look bigger.

For contouring I love Nars Laguna Bronzer in the hollows of my cheeks, the colour of this product is perfect for intensifying the cheekbone area, it isn't too sparkly like other bronzers I have tried either. For that fresh awake look I think blusher is a must, like Kate from gh0stparties.com I apply this to the top of my cheekbones as opposed to the apples as it suits my face shape more. For an everyday blusher I am currently using Revlon's Baby Stick Lip and Cheek Tint in the shade Pink Passion and I apply this using the Real Techniques Stippling Brush.

To finish off the look I use Revlon's Balm Stain Just Bitten Kissable in the colour Rendezvous which is a peachy pink with a slight sheen, this product was also featured in my top lip products post 'On The Lips'.
This look takes only a few minutes to apply and it sticks around all day.

What's your daily make-up routine?

Danielle