What's in my Travel Make Up Bag?

Since I live away from home for my university, I tend to travel home often and so I've formed a travel make up bag to show you all what I usually take with me. When it comes to packing a make up, I'm a sucker for overpacking. To be honest, this doesn't just happen with my make up but with everything else for that matter. Any tips on how to not overpack?!?! Anyway, I usually have to separate my make up into two separate bags as everything just overflows and I always struggle to zip up the bag. I've been having this problem for a while until I recently found this 'I need make up' make up bag from Primark for only £3! £3!!! I also find the slogan quite funny...or maybe that's just me being easily amused by the smallest things...

I love how big this bag is as it fits everything I need in and creates less of a struggle to zip up. Go me! I've been trying to solve my overpacking syndrome by talking to myself and thinking about what I really need. I mean, I might need options!! The bag is made out of an easily washable material, perfect if you end up getting make up marks all over. This bag is the perfect size for fitting everything in meaning I don't have to pack two make up bags! I think I have a problem.

Face

Primer - Benefit 'Porefessional'

Foundation - Bourjouis Healthy Mix Foundation (Shade: 52 Vanille)

Concealer - Benefit 'Erase Paste' (Shade: 01 Fair) and Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer

Powder - Seventeen Stay Time Pressed Powder

Bronzer - Benefit 'Hoola'

Blush - MAC 'At Dusk' and Benefit 'Rockateur'

Highlighter - MAC Soft and Gentle and Benefit 'Watt's Up'

Eyes

Primer - The testers that come with the Urban decay Naked 3 palette (lol that sounded professional but you know what I mean)

Eyeshadow - Stila 'In the Light' Palette

Eyeliner - Topshop Magic Liner

Mascara - Benefit 'They're Real' and Maybelline Lash Sensational

Eyebrows - Maybelline Brow Drama

False Eyelashes (if I'm feeling fancy) - Tanya Burr Individual Eyelashes

Lips (Note: it was very difficult to only pack a small amount)

MAC Creme Cup

MAC Honeylove 

Tanya Burr Lip Gloss - Afternoon Tea

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick - In Love With Ginger

MAC Russian Red

Rimmel Kate Moss - 107

Tools

Real Techniques - Buffing Brush, Powder Brush, Contour Brush and Base Shadow Brush

Ebay Brushes - Buffing brush for concealer and eyeshadow brush

No7 - Powder/blush brush and eyeshadow blending brush

Urban Decay (Naked 1 ) eyeshadow brush

MAC 217 blending brush

Primark eyelash curlers

So there is my travel make up bag. This is good for me, this is not overpacking (although some of you may think differently). I do tend to take loads of lip products, it just depends on how I'm feeling, am I in a bright pink mood or is it a dark red kinda day?

What's in your travel make up bag?

Charlotte xxx

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MAC's 'Russian Red' Lipstick Review

I love MAC lipsticks and by love, I mean I have a strong obsession. My bank balance is always hit hard when I take a trip to a MAC counter and I spend a good quarter of every shopping trip browsing and swatching a bunch of lipsticks until my hand looks like I've encountered some sort of deathly disease in the past hour that I had been standing there for. Of course that's not true, but my mam will always ask what has happened to the backs of my hand when I go shopping and I always give the same answer. I'm a make up addict, this is the life I lead...

Russian red has been on my MAC lipstick wishlist for a while now and I kindly received it for Christmas this year. this lipstick is a matte formula meaning it does not have any shine and stays on for longer. I've been really getting into matte lipsticks recently as I prefer the longevity of the product but I also love how it looks on the lips. I'm always worried about these formulas, however, as I've heard people speak about one MAC lipstick in particular (think it may be Ruby Woo, which is also on my wishlist) being quite hard to apply and doesn't glide on easily. Russian Red, on the other hand, does the trick and glides on like icing on a cake (MMM CAKE). It doesn't feel drying on the lips and doesn't look it either. BUT, I wouldn't recommend wearing a matte formulated lipstick if you have dry or cracked lips as it will make them a lot more noticeable. Not a nice look I can assure you.

The colour is more of a deep red but a very wearable lipstick for those who aren't comfortable with bold lip colours. It's more of a blue-toned red meaning that it makes your teeth look just that little bit whiter giving it more brownie points than it already has. It does last all day and my mam was shocked that it had lasted from morning to night without budging even though I eat 24/7, it did not move. She was genuinely impressed. The only problem I have about this lipstick, as well as other MAC lipsticks for that matter, is the price. £15.50 FOR A MAC LIPSTICK?!?! I used to pay about £12/£13 point which, yes I know is only a couple of pounds difference but still, how expensive?! Rant over sorry but I'm just not happy with this increase in price, how is my purse going to cope? 

Have you tried Russian Red?

Charlotte xxx

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Benefit's 'Erase Paste' Concealer Review

I've been giving Benefit a bit of love on my blog recently because they are damn well doing it for me. The products that I've being reviewing, however, aren't new releases but cult items that everyone seems to be constantly loving and I've only tried now. Benefit's 'Erase Paste' is a creamy concealer that is available in 3 shades (mine being 01 fair) and is more of a pink toned concealer which is perfect for neutralising any dark blue or purple areas you have on your face, giving it a huge thumbs up for cancelling out any under eye circle and shadows. LIFE SAVER!

It comes in a small pot which, in my opinion, isn't the best as it can be quite difficult to get the product with your fingers and would be even worse if you had long nails. Fortunately I don't have that problem, mainly due to laziness where I can't be bothered to do anything with my nails. Anyway, I tend to use my finger to apply this concealer and it works well. I've never tried it with a brush but I feel like it would get the product out of the tub a lot easier! I usually apply this underneath my brightening concealer which is the classic Collection's Lasting Perfection concealer (obvs) and it acts as a great base/primer for this as well as cancelling out any dark circles I have (which I can assure you, there are many). I feel like ever since I've used this product, I've noticed a big difference in how my under eye area looks as well as how long my concealer lasts.

As I said at the beginning, the concealer has a creamy consistency, making it easy to apply as well as being quite thick, however not cakey looking, especially if you blend it out well which this product does well. The shade is perfect for my skin tone but there aren't many other shades available as there are only three so you won't have much choice. At a price of £20.50 it does seem quite pricey for a small box of concealer but in my eyes, it's definitely worth it!

Charlotte xxx

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Benefit's 'Hoola' Bronzer Review

I love a good bronzer and lately I've been really getting into contouring and bronzed skin. Trying to master the Kim K look is harder than I thought but I'm still trying! Benefit's 'Hoola' bronzer is well hyped around the blog and YouTube world and probably every blogger/YouTuber and their dog has this product and I definitely know why. Like my post last week on the Benefit's 'Watt's Up' Highlighter, I asked for this bronzer for Christmas and gratefully received and I have been using it ever since. I love it and for some reason it always makes me feel a bit Hawaiian or something, maybe that's just me...

I currently only own one of the Benefit's box powders and receiving this makes me want to collect more. Benefit does it again with the packaging, including a small mirror which I love and giving enough product to last a long time. The bronzer comes with a small brush which I actually love. I'm never usually a fan of some make up brushes that come with a certain product but I use this one on a daily basis. The brush picks up the right amount of product and is a perfect size and shape for contouring and giving the cheekbones a bit of definition. 

The colour of the bronzer is, in my opinion, perfect for all skin tones. It is not orange-toned, creating a natural and sun-kissed look, and doesn't look muddy on the face, especially when blended out. It is easily buildable but pigmented enough to only use a small amount of the product and give an effect. It lasts most of the day, I have noticed that it has lasted a solid few hours until it starts to fade slightly but still looks effective. 

The bronzer costs £23.50, just like the rest of the box powders and I have to say it is definitely good value for money as I feel like it will last a good amount of time before hitting the bottom.

Charlotte xxx

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If You're Having Girl Problems...

If you're having girl problems I feel bad for you son, I got 99 problems and...yeah I bet you sang this song when you read this title. It's been stuck in my head all day. ANYWAY, I love reading Buzzfeed style posts. Whenever I scroll down my Twitter feed there are always different articles and accounts that I could totally relate to and I sometimes find myself blowing more out of my nose than usual when I find something pretty funny. Because let's be honest, we don't all 'lol' unless something is hilarious and that is some serious shit.

As a girl, I experience SEVERAL problems on a daily basis. This is normal, I'm a girl. Boys don't seem to realise that being a girl is probably one of the hardest things to face in life. Feeling like you're being stabbed in the stomach every month, stressing out over everything (or in my case, when there are no teabags left) and literally wanting to shave all of your hair off when one tiny bit won't go right. Dear boys, the harsh reality is, you probably don't want to be around us most of the time but you're going to have to deal with it. 

1. We all have those days where we don't want to talk to anybody and care about nothing.

2. When a girl walks into a party wearing the same outfit as you.

3. But you know damn well that you look better anyway.

4. It's okay to get stressed over the smallest things.

5. That look on your face when the person you don't like sits next to you.

6. The anger that you have when you save up money to buy that dress you wanted and it goes out of stock.

7. But it's fine cause we'll probably buy two more to make up for it.

8. Maybe we think we're going to be the next Jennifer Ennis but tbh we'd rather lie in bed with pizza watching Netflix. 

9. There'll be times where we don't give a shit about people or life.

10. But there will also be times where you think why on earth certain things happen in life.

11. There are daily struggles...

12. And there are people that you have to fake being nice to.

13. This is okay too...

14. But when your period strikes at the worst time, this is not okay.

15. But when it's all over, we can be grateful for the rest of the month we have free.

Charlotte xxx

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Benefit's 'Watt's Up' Highlighter Review

The majority of my Christmas list consists of make up and beauty products and yes, I know you're probably wondering why I'm still talking about Christmas when it's a week into February, but it's always nice to keep up the Christmas spirit, right? Basically, I received this highlighter as a Christmas present and oh my golly gosh I think I'm in love. I've been wanting this product for such a long time and I remember reading loads of blog posts and reviews on this ages ago and wishing i had it but I always turned it away because I chickened out in spending the money. But since I received it for Christmas I've been wearing it non-stop!

First of all, let's give a round of applause, as always, to Benefit for their amazing packaging. I feel like I have to give credit to the packaging of every Benefit product when I write a blog post about them because they're most definitely on point. The quirkiness of the product and its name is one of the main things that draws me to the product (as well as the actual make up of course) like many others, and they make my make up collection look pretty. 

This cream highlighter is in a stick form and glides on the cheeks so easily. I usually go for pink/peachy highlights because I think they suit my skin perfectly but this is the total opposite. The colour gives a champagne/gold sheen to the cheeks and suits every skin tone. I love wearing it especially when I'm more tanned as it is a perfect combination with bronzed skin for a sun-kissed look. I've been loving it throughout this past month and I can tell I'm going to absolutely adore it throughout summer. 

I love wearing this on its own but also as a base for a powder highlighter. I'm a highlight girl. I love highlighting. So this is why apply two highlighters. Wow, how many times do I want to mention the word highlight? I usually apply this straight from the stick then blend it out with a face brush. I have tried the sponge given on the other end of the stick but I don't like it that much. It doesn't seem to blend the product out as well as a brush and took some of my make up off with it. That is not good.

I know this is going to be a new favourite of mine and I'm so grateful that I was given this to add to my collection. It costs £24.50, which I  thought it was a little bit pricey which is why I was always put off buying it but honestly, I would highly recommend it and it is definitely worth the money!

Have you tried this highlighter?

Charlotte xxx

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Christmas Beauty Wishlist

Christmas Beauty Wishlist with the Balm, Nars, Too Faced

Urban Decay Naked 3 Eyeshadow Palette
One of the most hyped products on the blogosphere. Urban Decay do it well with eyeshadows and after thoroughly loving my Naked 1 palette (and still treating it like my baby), I thought I should give some of the love to a new set of eyeshadows. The Naked 3 moves away from my normal neutral looks and moves more towards pinks and rose golds, I think it would be nice to experiment with different looks and this palette is perfect for doing so.

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Eyeshadow Palette
Oh my days, this palette. I've watched numerous YouTube videos and read countless blogs showing this palette and I have to say, I think I'm in love and it's not even in my hands yet! The colours look AMAZING and sooo highly pigmented and what's even better...IT SMELLS OF CHOCOLATE. Plz bring this to me Santa, will love you forever.

Benefit's Watt's Up Highlighter
I love a good highlight and I love a good Benefit product so why not put them together ey? Firstly, I love the packaging, Benefit never lets me down with their packaging! Secondly, the colour looks amazing and thirdly, it's a highlighter, and for me you can never go wrong with a bit of glowiness (is that a word?!).

NARS Laguna Bronzer
This bronzer has been on my wishlist for a long time now but I find that it is so expensive that it makes me chicken out when I want to buy it. I love bronzed skin and have been really getting into this look recently and from past reviews, I've heard many good things about this product and it looks gorgeous in photos!

theBalm Mary Lou Manizer Luminizer
Again, another highlighter. A girl can't have too many highlighters right? This product is one of the most hyped highlighters across the blogosphere and has been in my wishes for a long time. It seems so pigmented from what I've seen and tested (everytime I see it I always swatch it and dream about having this little beauty on my face, I know, sad.)

Let me know what your wishlist consists of!

Charlotte xxx

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