What's In Yours?

Make-up Bag Envy...


If you're obsessed with make-up [as I clearly am],I think you can't help but be curious about what make-up other women are using,too!I often find myself discussing cosmetics,or even particular cosmetic items-it was mascaras last week-with girlfriends.This inevitably leads me back to wondering what people keep in their make-up bags;what they like to use;what their favourite items are [and why] and what wouldn't they touch with a six foot pole [and why]?

So,here it is...this week's ramble about what's in my make-up bag!

The Tools

To paraphrase Wayne Goss [if you don't who he is, you really need to acquaint yourself on 'YOUTUBE' ] you'd do better with poor make-up and good brushes;than you'd do with good make-up and bad brushes.And,having tried lots of them over the years,this lowly amateur has to agree.That said,you also need to find the ones that work for you; there's something about size/grip/feel that's just right or wrong for you personally.

I have many ,many brushes,but my 6 favourites are here:

1.Sigma flat-top kabuki :excellent buffer/foundation brush

2.Screenface eye brow:fair brows need colour and this applies it precisely

3.Screenface shadow:places eye shadow beautifully-firm without being harsh

4.Screenface large blush/powder:again firm;precise placement, but never prickly  

5.GO professional shadow:super for sweeping highlighters across a brow or removing excess powder.Lovely angled shape & again no itchy bristles

6.Crown crease:fits snugly into the eye crease;carries powder well so it minimises wastage and decreases fallout.

Note: I've had the Screenface brushes for years-they're part of a  larger starter set which comes in a wrap-and with regular washing in shampoo [as recommended by Lisa Eldridge] they look/feel as good as the day I bought them!

The Base

Foundations/primers-get them right and you're set for any occasion.Get them wrong &  you'll pay with transference;shine;slip n slide and patchiness.

These work for me...
1.Laura Mercier eye basics in either Wheat or Linen.Excellent base coloured cream shadows which can also be used [as I do] as primers-nothing comes
off with this baby and shadows stay colour true.
2.Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation.I think as many people love this as don't.The main criticism I've heard levelled at it is heaviness & it being difficult to work with;I don't see it...
I find its weightless when on-I don't feel as if I have a mask on;it's easy to apply with a brush or-horrors-your fingers & if its colour matched accurately it looks natural-like great skin.What I like the most though,is the fact that it stays put and has longevity-it looks just like it did when it was applied.
3/4.Current powder favourites are *Hard Candy Peanut Butter Cookie [very old school here;going to be sad when I cant find it any more]-great daily make-up setter and convenient for touch ups and * Kryolan Translucent powder in TL4-looks yellow but isn't.Comfortable to wear [I have a problem with loose powders as I often find them itchy];fine application;great absorbency and neutral colour.
5.Mehron Celebre Pro make-up in LT3 and ME1.Oil-free;looks quite thick but using a brush  gives a lighter, build-able application and a satin finish.Great for photos and a flawless finish.

Eyes/Brows


I'll skip through this one as quickly as I can,as I don't want to end up reviewing the products as there's been plenty written about most of them already!


1.No intro needed!The Urban Decay Naked Palette.
Until I got this palette I had no idea what to do with neutrals.A bit of practise and I've been converted.Utility colours combine with glamorous shimmers to create a 'one-size fits all occasions' palette where you can can create any look,from the natural to the sultry & smoky-eyed.And it look chic,too.
2.Avon colour quads-really don't use Avon but saw the colours on a friend [see?make-up curiosity strikes again];tried a quad myself and found that they really are very nice.Good colour combos;strong colour pay-off and portable,easy to use casings.
3.CK 112 Smudge [black]-not everyone's cup of tea-but its mine.This is a soot colour with a fine sparkle [note the word fine] which lifts it from the bland to the beautiful
4.Revlon Matte 001 Vintage Lace-very soft cream which I use as a base colour over primer.I try and avoid too much highlighting shimmer and shine as its not flattering over a 'certain age'.
5.Revlon Grow Luscious Fabulash & in the same range,Plumping.
I thought Id never abandon my Lancome Hypnose-still love it- but after trialling Revlon Fabulash-before its UK release-for The Beauty Bible I am absolutely converted.I have very long but very fine lashes.I need coverage and a wand that grips-this delivers.The brush is huge [I'm not sure 
short-lashed women would appreciate it; might be a bit messy & difficult to use] so it catches the lashes and slides along,coating them really well without clumping or the need to apply coat after coat.Also in there is Clarins Wonder Perfect-good solid coverage and clean separation
6.Brows:newly discovered thanks to Carmine Beauty Box is Cosmetics A La Carte semi-permanent brow and body ink in Blonde.Ive tried the 'felt-tip' approach before but its never worked-however,this ones different.The tip is flexible but not floppy so it allows for precise strokes that mimic natural hair and its growth.And the colours excellent too.And my all time favourite-so distressed its now discontinued-is the Ruby & Millie Brow colour & wax.Bought loads to stock up as its just perfect!

Lips & Cheeks


1.Cheeks:The BALM Hot Mama and Frat Boy...just gorgeous healthy peachy and rose  colours with a hint of shimmer [again,no unflattering sparkles].And the cutest kitsch packaging.
*La Femme blush in Rose & Peach Sparkle.You have to try these...Fantastic colour pay-off;excellent quality-only a small amount is needed and boy does it last;beautiful range of colours and best of all..pro quality for a high street busting £2.99!!I store them in old Ruby & Millie flip cases.I decanted the shadows [courtesy of the Wayne Goss method]as the blushes come as single magnetic pans and when I put them into magnetic palettes they were too bulky to carry
2.The Body Shop lip liner in 02 Beech-my perfect,easy to apply,long lasting nude shade
3.Eye liners:Urban Decay double ender [UD Naked Palette]in Zero [black] and Whisper [gorgeous wood brown] both very soft and apply without drag.
*Max Factor Liquid effect Brown Black.Lovely smoky colour and again,no drag.
4.Glosses [you wont find any lippies in here as its only very occasionally that I'll use lip stick-as I have a lot of natural colour in my lips,lipsticks often change their colour on me;gloss is safer]:
*Model Co Gloss & Mascara double ender [handy but I dont rate the mascara]in peach and pink.Lovely shimmery hint of colour gloss without too much stickiness.
And finally my current favourite [as I have about 40 glosses]Clarins  Gloss Appeal in 05 the most gorgeous multi tonal pink/coral courtesy of the pretty,fine coloured sparkle.


And that's it!
So the question remains...what's in yours??



Happy Beauty Daze
x


Wayne Goss Make-up Hero


Some favourite stockists:


Treasure House for Mehron & Kryolan


Love-makeup for La Femme;Sigma & much more


cocktailcosmetics