What's In My Makeup Bag? #2 EYES

I always enjoy 'What's In My Makeup Bag?' blog posts. I like to know what people are using day to day and what they like enough to consider them essentials in their makeup bags, so I thought I'd do one of my own!

I don't have a huge makeup bag, and I don't think I carry around an excessive amount of products, but everyone has different opinions of what is essential and what they're likely to want or need throughout the day, so here's mine...

EYES

Eyeshadow: I'll often throw the eyeshadow I put on in my makeup bag before I go out, but there are a couple that I always keep on me. The first is Collection 2000 Colour Intense Trio Eye Shadow in the shade Sandcastle. This has 3 shimmery nude shadows, a very pale cream, a slightly darker beige, and a warm light brown. I think this trio has a great selection for everyday makeup, and can be built into a couple of different looks and can work to adjust a lot of looks if you forget to put your eyeshadow in your bag or if you don't want to carry a lot around.

I also have my Sleek i-Divine Eyeshadow Palette in Bad Girl in my handbag. While a lot of colours in the palette are very dark or bold, they can be used lightly to create a wide range of looks, and it's great to have in your bag if you're going out for the day and night, as it's easy to make a neutral day look into an evening one with a smokey eye. It also has two great nude shades in it, Innocence (a frosty white) and Gullible (a frosty beige) which I use a lot for a wash of colour on the lids in the daytime.

Eyeshadow brush: I don't like to carry a lot of brushes in my makeup bag, so I just carry my eyeshadow brush from FCUK as I find good for most looks or touch ups I may need to do.

Eyeliner: I love liquid liners, and personally find them relatively easy to do on the go or touch up quickly. At the moment I'm using 2true Effortless Waterproof Eyeliner and am loving it. It lasts really well, applies accurately, and is opaque so it doesn't require numerous coats. I used to always carry a black kohl pencil or gel liner for my waterline, but have been needing a new one for quite a while since my Maybelline gel liner (which I really liked) dried out and it hasn't been top of my makeup priorities. When I repurchase one, it will undoubtedly live in my makeup bag everyday.

Mascara: I always have two mascaras in my makeup bag. I'll keep a waterproof mascara in there at all times (I'm currently using NYC Showtime Waterproof Mascara) to apply over my normal mascara if necessary or if I want to make it last a bit longer (this isn't scientific fact, just something I like to do!). I then will put in the mascara I am using at the time after I've put it on. I tend to alternate between Benefit's Bad Gal Lash Mascara, George's Lash X-Treme Mascara, and Rimmel Volume Flash Scandal'Eyes Mascara (all in black) depending on the look I want, as I find they all give me different effects.

Read my review of Benefit Bad Gal Lash Mascara here!
http://beautyimaginarium.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/glamour-and-benefit.html

Read my review of George Lash X-Tend Mascara here!
http://beautyimaginarium.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/george-lash-x-tend-mascara.html




Read Part One of What's In My Makeup Bag? here! http://beautyimaginarium.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/whats-in-my-makeup-bag-1-face.html

Part Three coming soon!

Thanks for reading! xxx

What's In My Makeup Bag? #1 FACE

I always enjoy 'What's In My Makeup Bag?' blog posts. I like to know what people are using day to day and what they like enough to consider them essentials in their makeup bags, so I thought I'd do one of my own!

I don't have a huge makeup bag, and I don't think I carry around an excessive amount of products, but everyone has different opinions of what is essential and what they're likely to want or need throughout the day, so here's mine...

FACE
Foundation: I don't carry around a foundation everyday, especially if I'm carrying a lot about that day, and often concealer will fix any skin dilemmas that may arise. But I do often throw it in my bag before I go out, despite the fact I don't think I've ever re-applied foundation when out and about, unless I was going somewhere to get ready (like a friend's house before a night out or a special occasion where we want to get ready together) or if I'd rushed out without time to do my makeup (which is rare!). At the moment I am using the NYC All Day Long Foundation, which I love for a cheap foundation. It lasts really well and when hotter days come along it doesn't slip or sweat off.

Read my review of NYC All Day Long Foundation here! http://beautyimaginarium.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/nyc-all-day-long-foundation-review.html

Concealer: I carry concealer at all times! I used the Rimmel Hide The Blemish stick concealers for a really long time, until I recently bought the Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection concealer. I know this concealer has a lot of fans on blogs, and I understand why. I love it! It lasts throughout the day, has great coverage, allows you to pinpoint blemishes, and doesn't go cakey when built up. This has quickly become a staple in my makeup routine and I don't go anywhere without it.

Read my review of Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer here!
http://beautyimaginarium.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/collection-2000-lasting-perfection.html

Powder: I am always a bit scared when I get my powder out of my makeup bag. I've suffered from broken powders, bronzers, blushers and eyeshadows many, many times in my life! However, in the Summer I can get a bit shiny, especially if I'm running about a bit and therefore like to keep powder on me for a quick fix. I always buy translucent powders because I am quite fair, I use the palest foundations generally, and I don't want any coloured powder that may not match up well and would look very obvious on my pale base. I was using Rimmel Stay Matte translucent powder untiil that broke recently, so I am know using Collection 2000 Pressed Powder.

Powder Brush: To apply my powder on the go I use a blusher brush by FCUK, which is great because it's slim and doesn't take up as much room as perhaps a larger powder brush would, and I only tend to put powder on a couple of places on my face, so it's good for keeping powder exactly where I want it.

Read my review of Collection 2000 Pressed Powder here!
http://beautyimaginarium.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/collection-2000-pressed-powder.html

Eyebrow Pencil: I actually use a pencil eyeliner for shaping and colouring my eyebrows. I often get a No7 gift set for Christmas or birthdays and these (luckily) often include the No7 Amazing Eyes Pencil in Brown. I really like this for my brows as it's easy to do light individual strokes and the colour is quite ashy so it doesn't leave me with gingery eyebrows (which has happened in the past). Eyebrow products may not be considered essential to everyone, but my brows aren't very dark naturally and are quite sparse, so I like to fill them in to make them more defined, and consider this one of my makeup musts everyday. I probably wouldn't use these liners for my eyebrows if I wasn't getting them in gifts as there are cheaper brow products out there, or even just eyeshadows, but when I've tried eyeshadows I've found it hard to find the right shade. Also these pencils are really convenient for on-the-go makeup.

Mascara Spoolie Brush: I keep an old, clean mascara wand in my makeup bag to brush through and shape my brows before adding pencil or brow mascara.

Brow Mascara: I have only started using brow mascara the last few months, but now I don't know how I ever managed without it!I use the ELF Wet Gloss Lash and Brow Clear Mascara. I keep it on my despite the fact it's never required touching up or another coat because hairs have fallen out of place. I find once I apply it in the morning, my eyebrows are set all day.

Read my review of ELF Wet Gloss Lash and Brow Clear Mascara here!
http://beautyimaginarium.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/elf-reviews-part-one-eyeshadow-eyeliner.html



Part Two of What's In My Makeup Bag? coming up!

Thanks for reading! xxx

Collection 2000 Pressed Powder!

As I said in my previous Collection 2000 posts, I popped into Superdrug recently and they had 3 for 2 on the whole range, so I picked up the Lasting Perfection Concealer, the Fast Stroke Eyeliner and the Pressed Powder.

I bought the Pressed Powder in Translucent as opposed to one of the coloured ones as I don't tend to wear a lot of powder, so I'm never trying to really build coverage with it or apply it heavily. I have dry skin so can find powders to make my foundation look a bit cakey, but I will use a translucent powder down the centre of my face, to lightly set any areas where I've had to do a bit of concealing and just to set the concealer under my eyes. They appear to have about 9 shades online, but when I was in Superdrug they only had about 4 or 5 on display. 

I tend to have problems achieving the exact look I want for my skin. As it is dry, I like to use products that leave it looking dewy, glowing and healthy, whilst giving me good coverage. A lot of these products don't seem to last as well on my skin as perhaps more matte products, so they often need setting with a powder, but if I'm not careful this can take me back to the beginning where my skin looks dull, dry and tired. However, it is nice and fine and allows you to build up the coverage you want, whether you want a light coat to set your make up, or prefer to build your powder up if you have more oily skin.

I really liked the fact that this powder is enriched with silk and Vitamin E, and has UVA and UVB sunscreen. While I doubt the effects of this sunscreen is really significant, it's nice to feel like you perhaps have an extra bit of skin protection in the summertime. I haven't noticed a change in my skin, good or bad, but I didn't expect to, but it's nice to apply a makeup product that feels like it's doing your skin some good. 

For £1.99 I think this powder is great, especially if, like me, powder isn't a huge part of your everyday makeup routine and you just want a cheap one on standby for when you do use it, and I think this powder is a good choice. 

xxx

Collection 2000 Pressed Powder - £1.99 from Superdrug or Boots http://www.superdrug.com/face/collection-2000-pressed-powder-3/invt/236829/

Collection 2000 Waterproof Fast Stroke Eyeliner!

I have been using the 2true Waterproof Eyeliner for a while now and really enjoying it, but when looking over the Collection 2000 products I saw this and remembered that I used to use the Fast Stroke eyeliner all the time a year or so ago, so I picked one of the Waterproof Fast Stroke Eyeliners from the range.

I'm not sure whether it's because it was the waterproof formula instead of the normal one I used to use, or if it has been altered, but I wasn't as smitten with it as I once was.

I like my eyeliner to be completely opaque if I'm wearing a liquid liner look and this didn't deliver that on the first or even the second go. It took quite a lot of going back over, but I'm not sure if that's because I have eyeliner issues and am a bit fussy.

As far as the application, I still like this product. It says it gives you precision and definition, and I do think it's  got a great nib for precise application, and for doing things like flicked liner. You can get a really thick line or a really thin precise one depending on how you angle and use the nib.

I really like the handle for the eyeliner as well. As it is really long, you feel a lot of control over the application. Sometimes when applying it a bit thicker with the edge of the nib, I found that the thinner part of the nib would almost draw a line through what you had just applied where it was removing a bit of the product. I found it lasted well on my eyes, and yet was easily removed, so you aren't left scrubbing at your eyes like I sometimes find with waterproof products.

Overall, I like the effect this eyeliner gives, and I will continue to use it. However, it's not one of my favourites. It takes a lot of building up to create a solid line and definition, but it is good for precision and the waterproof formula does last throughout the day.
Have you tried the Collection 2000 Liquid Liners? If so, I'd love to know what you though!

xxx

Collection 2000 Fast Stroke Eyeliner - £2.99 - http://www.superdrug.com/eyes/collection-2000-fast-stroke-liquid-eyeliner-1/invt/228796/&bklist=

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Ultimate Wear Concealer!

I was killing time in Superdrug the other day, looking for any good offers, when I saw that Collection 2000 had a 3 for 2 offer on all their products. I was after a new concealer and know that the YouTube and blogging world is mad for the Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection concealer, so I thought this would be a great time to give it a try, and I might as well pick up a couple of thing while the offer was on, so I also bought a pressed powder and a liquid liner.

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Ultimate Wear Concealer  (£4.19)


I couldn't wait to try this concealer, given all the great reviews I've heard, and I have to say I wasn't disappointed.

The product says it has '16 hour wear' and it transfer and water resistant. I haven't actually worn it for that long a period of time yet, but when I have worn it it has lasted beautifully. I have really dry skin but am also prone to blemishes, so concealers tend to either go cakey on my skin or not last on the areas and blemishes I want to cover. This did neither. It gives you a sense when you apply it that it is almost setting, and it didn't need layering or touching up as concealers often do with me. Whether it was subliminal because of the great things I've heard, or because of how it applied, I felt completely confident that it was staying in place, despite doing a lot of walking about and, I'm not gonna lie, sweating a bit (nice!). But it did stay on perfectly, I was complimented on how clear my skin looked, and it was a nice relief to get home and look in the mirror without worrying about how long that spot has been on show or my face has looked like it's melted/flaking away!

I like the more liquid concealers with doe foot applicators as they seem to apply more smoothly, look more natural, and allow you to really pinpoint imperfections. However, if concealing an active spot you might want to put it on your hand or finger first and then on your face to avoid spreading bacteria into your whole concealer.

The colour was actually perfect for me. I was wary due to the quite limited colour range (Deep, Medium, Light, Fair), but the shade Fair 1 worked really great for me. Although if you are really pale or dark skinned then these colours may not work for you.

I was really impressed with this concealer and am glad it lived up to the hype. I can see this becoming my staple concealer for a long time to come.


xxx

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer - £4.19 from Boots or Superdrug (I bought mine from Superdrug but for some reason It's not listed on their website)
http://www.boots.com/en/Collection-2000-Lasting-Perfection-Concealer_984434/