182. What's In My Everyday Make Up Bag?

I love looking for new make-up. In fact, Superdrug is probably my second home. I'm always on the look out for new products that are affordable and, frankly, do what they're supposed to. That's why I wanted to share, with you lovely lot, the contents of my Everyday Make Up Bag. These are the products that I use every single time I apply make-up; whether it's for work, a meal out or something more special, this is my go to selection of products to achieve that everyday look.

First up, skin. I've been using my two main skin products for such a long time now that I've actually lost track, but it must be well over a year! I start off by applying Seventeen's Phwoarr Paint, in Fair, under my eyes to eliminate any dark patches, as well as dabbing it on any ugly spots that have popped up. It reminds me of Benefit's Boi-ing concealor, which is equally good but a helluvalot more expensive. At just £5.49 you really can't complain - this stuff lasts months and works wonders. 

Next up, I use Rimmel's Match Perfection foundation in Ivory 100. It's a lovely, runny but not watery, liquid foundation and it applies seamlessly with a foundation brush. You hardly have to use any of it to get a good, medium coverage and, at just £6.99, it's definitely worth it. I get through a bottle of this every two months, and that's with daily use. 

To ensure my make-up stays put all day, I use Maybelline Matte Maker powder, in Classic Ivory. I apply this pressed powder with my Real Techniques powder brush all over my face, especially around my nose, chin and forehead as these are the areas where my foundation seems to want to escape from my face! The powder is only £3.99 and lasts a good few months for me. It's very handy for carrying around in your handbag whenever you need to get rid of that shine too. 

Finally, to add a pop of colour, I apply Bourjois Blusher in Rose De Jaspe to the apples of my cheeks and brush upwards and outwards, with the Real Techniques blush brush. It's a gorgeous deep, shimmery rose pink and is subtle enough to avoid the clown-like look, but pretty enough to make your skin look just that little bit healthier. I've been using this blusher for about six months and it's still about half full, definitely worth the modest £7.99 that I spent on it.

Once I've got my skin looking clear and healthy, I move onto my eyes. First up, my eyebrows which I think deserve a good bit of attention. I've always loved dark, statement brows but - unfortunately, being blonde, pale and with the tendency to frown a lot - I can't quite pull the Cara Delevigne look off. Instead, I try to find some middle ground by using the Collection Work the Colour Eyebrow Kit, which is just £3.99. I use the middle shade and apply it with the brush which is included in the palette, it's a double ended brush and is perfect for shaping and filling in your brows, giving off a natural look but enough definition for your eyebrows to really stand out.

Once my brows have been tamed, it's time to tackle the make-up nightmare that is liquid eyeliner. I've been applying liquid eye liner for a good 8 years now and I've done it the same way the entire time, so I don't struggle with it nowadays, but that may also have something to do with the eyeliner that I choose to use. I've recently been using Seventeen High Drama liquid eyeliner which I picked up for just £3.99 in Superdrug and it's honestly so good. I've never been sucked in to buying expensive, high-end eyeliners as I honestly believe that the budget versions do just as good of a job (in fact, I prefer this to my old Eyeko eyeliner which was triple the price!). This eyeliner creates a solid black silhouette around your eye and lasts all day long, even in the heat or the rain. I'd recommend it to anybody, plus the shape of the brush makes it so easy to apply, especially for those cat-flicks!

In an attempt to make myself look less zombie like, I use a white eyeliner pencil, in the form of Maybelline's Big Eyes Liner. I apply the eyeliner to the inner corner of my eye, both on the top and bottom water lines, as it really helps to make my eyes look brighter and wider. The eye liner is only £4.99 and includes both a black and white eyeliner pencil, so it's a real bargain!

Last but certainly not least, the mascara that I've sworn by for years: Max Factor's False Lash Effect, in black. At £10.99 it's actually, by far, the most expensive item in my make-up bag but it probably also lasts the longest. I find that the brush is brilliant for even, all over coverage and doesn't give me lashes that spidery effect which is all too common nowadays. I've tried numerous mascaras over the years but I always come crawling back to False Lash Effect as it really is just so good, even when the gods forgot bless you with gloriously long, thick lashes. 

So, ten minutes after unzipping my make-up bag and letting the contents spill out all over my bed, I just add a slick of colour to my lips depending on my mood, and I'm good to go!

What about your make-up essentials?

Have you tried any of my favourites?

175. March Empties

Hello lovelies and welcome to April!

I've collected a fair few empties this month so I wanted to share my thoughts on them, with you. As you will see, all the products are high-street products, available from places like Boots and Superdrug. 

First up, one of my all time favourites: Soap and Glory's Heel Genius. I've written a full review of this amazing foot cream here, and I still swear by it to this day. It's incredibly moisturising and smells amazing - I've used it on my feet, elbows, basically anywhere with dry skin and it always does the trick. Although it's towards the pricier end of the scale, it is definitely something that I would repurchase as it's just so good. 

A new purchase for me, and one that I've already repurchased, is Provoke's Touch of Silver shampoo. I went for their twice a week brightening shampoo and, as suggested, used it once or twice a week to refresh my hair colour and keep brassy tones away. I wouldn't say that Touch of Silver completely eradicates brassy, yellow tones but I think it makes my hair appear a lot lighter after using it, as well as feeling fresh and clean. 

Shampoo seems to have been my 'thing' last month, as I also finished my L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil Nourishing Shampoo, which I bought on a whim one lunchtime. It claims to nourish dry hair from root to tip, leaving it soft, shiny and detangled. Perfect. Although it doesn't act as a miracle cure for my hair which is so prone to knots and split ends, it smells gorgeous and leaves my hair feeling nourished and soft. It also feels so luxurious to use, which is a definite winner for a budget hair care product! 

When you're as lazy as me, and your mane is as thick and as much of a pain to wash as mine, dry shampoo often acts as a life saver. I absolutely swear by Batiste's Dry Shampoo as I've always found it to do a better job, and have a much nicer scent, than the other offerings, from Superdrug's own brand to Herbal Essence's. I usually go for the Oriental scent which smells beautifully floral and fresh, it's a very 'girly' smell, that's for sure. And it certainly does what it says on the tin, or in this case - can, as it leaves my hair looked refreshed and feeling softer, rather than limp and greasy.

I've blogged about my love for Sure Maximum Protection anti-perspirant deodorant before, and I'm constantly banging on about it to anyone who'll listen, because it is incredible. If you're prone to 'getting your sweat on', whether it's from exercise, stress or that's just the way you are, this is the solution. It comes in a variety of scents and lasts 48 hours. No jokes. It even withstands baths and showers; it's like the cockroach and nuclear apocalypse scenario - it can survive anything. 

Whilst everyone raves about Benefit or Eyeko's latest eye liner offerings, I faithfully stand by my tried-and-tested, budget favourite - Collection's Fast Stroke Eyeliner. I've been using this eyeliner for as long as I can remember and, although I've tried others in between, this always comes out on top. The shape of the brush means that its easy to create either a thick or thin line, and flicks with ease, and it lasts all day - as pure black; none of that patchy, grey mess that you get with some eyeliners. For just £2.99, in Superdrug, you really can't go wrong if you want to give it a go!

Have you tried any of my March Empties?

Any products you'd recommend I try out this month?