What's In My Makeup Bag? | TRAVEL EDITION 2015

As you may know from my previous post, I'm currently on holiday in the South of England- in South Devon to be precise. As I am travelling, I tried to downsize my makeup as I didn't want to be lugging too much away with me. So today, I'm going to show you the contents of my travel makeup bag which will show you some of the bits I had to take away with me as I couldn't be without them. Also, just a side-note I will be taking brushes with me but I haven't included them in this post, you can see my most used face and eye brushes here and here- I shall be taking those with me.

1. Benefit Porefessional Primer

I must admit when I first tested this I didn't love it, I wasn't a huge fan of the silicone texture so it went to the back of my makeup storage. I gave it a go again and I love it- it doesn't reduce the size of my pores by a huge amount but it definitely makes my makeup stay on a lot longer. This will be great as i'm likely to have my makeup on early morning through to the evening!

2. L'Oreal True Match Foundation

This has pretty much been the only foundation I use for a good year now, you can see a review here. It's a light liquid formula with a medium coverage which is buildable, this is also the perfect match for my pale skin. It has a satin finish and although i'd prefer a dewier finish for the summer, that can easily be achieved by mixing with my moisturiser for a more natural glowy finish.

3. Seventeen Phwoarr Paint Concealer

Recently I've been choosing this over the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer as this covers my dark circles like no other. This is also great for covering blemishes but must set using powder, I keep my powder in my bag for on the go touch ups which is why it wont be mentioned here. This will be great while travelling to cover those dark circles due to lack of sleep and early mornings.

4. MUA Pressed Powder in Shade 4

I don't use this to set my makeup, I use this to bronze up my pale skin and also sometimes use it to contour. This is only £1 so you can't go wrong really! I'm super pale so this will be great for faking a sun kissed glow when the weather is likely to be a little miserable. I'm writing this in advance so fingers crossed for nice weather!

5. Sleek Blush in Rose Gold

This is currently the only blush I own, I mean I have a load of other cheap ones but this is my go-to! It's a dupe of NARS Orgasm and is a beautiful shimmery coral. This helps to put colour back into my face and the shimmer also works as a highlight- a perfect two-in-one product!

6. NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Yogurt

I was going to take my Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Pink Gold but I use that quite a lot and this often gets neglected so I thought i'd take this in a hope that i'd start to use it. This is a gorgeous copper, slightly pink shade and looks so pretty as a base for eye shadows.

7. W7 In the Buff Eye Shadow Palette
This is a dupe for the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette which is why I bought it as I didn't want to splash out nearly £40 on a palette I may not use that often. I've also done a review on this palette here, I absolutely love it which is why I chose to bring it away with me despite being much larger and less travel friendly than my other palettes. I love this for the few matte shades, they're my go-to!

8. Benefit Roller Lash Mascara
Love this mascara! It seems to be a running theme here but I've also done a review on this mascara, here. I mostly review products I love just so I can rave about them, hence why i'm bringing them all with me. This separates my lashes and lifts them, making them so fluttery which is perfect for everyday wear which is why it's coming with me.

9. Soap and Glory Brow Archery in Brownie Points

I know there are two called Brow Archery, but this is the double ended one with a pencil at one end and a almost felt tip pen at the other end. I love the pen side for outlining my brows and filling them in with little hair like strokes. The pencil end is also great but I must be much more light-handed with it other wise it's a little too dark for me. My brows stay on all day with this, hence why I will be bringing it with me!

10. Lip Balm, Lip Liner and Lipsticks

Ok, I haven't downsized too well on this section, I just love lipsticks.

I've gone for the Nivea Hydro Care Lip Balm with SPF 15, purely because it has SPF in and I don't want to burn my lips- ouch! I've only chosen one liner as it's pretty much the only one I use, this is the Rimmel 1000 Kisses Lip Liner in Rose Quartz which looks beautiful alone but also pairs nicely with a couple of the lipsticks I've chosen. And finally for lipsticks I've chosen two of the Avon Color Trend Lip Stix in Foxy Fuchsia and Reddy To Go, a Natural Collection Moisture Shine Lipstick in Rosebud- my go-to and finally an MUA Lipstick in the shade Bare. 

And there you have it, I've tried to downsize a lot but I know i'm taking more than I need. If it fits in my makeup bag then why not eh? I'll be back on Wednesday with a Q&A and TAG so keep your eyes peeled for that, especially if you left me a question on Instagram. If you'd like to keep up with me and see what i'm up to whilst on holiday i'm @xtracesofmythoughts on Instagram. Would love to see you there!

WHAT MAKEUP PRODUCTS CAN'T YOU LIVE WITHOUT?

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What's In My Makeup Bag? | Travel Edition

Hello!
As you can tell from the title of this post, today i'll be giving you an insight to my makeup bag and in particular what i'll be taking away with me, or rather what I've taken away with me- depending on when this goes up! I'll let you know now, I don't have the most luxurious high end makeup although I would love some- it's just not within budget at the moment and I feel the drugstore offers great quality products at more affordable prices so here we go..

Again, I don't have the nicest of makeup bags that are on offer to me, but this is handy as it fits everything in nicely without the need to leave the bag half unzipped! This is just a pink mesh bag that came with a gift from The Body Shop- handy!

First up is foundations, notice the plural? I was using the L'Oreal True Match foundation for a while on it's own, although it's great on it's own I wasn't too keen on the finish for summer as I prefer a dewier finish. I had the Rimmel 25 hour foundation lying around as I wasn't using it as I picked up the darker shade on accident.Now I know it looks really dark in comparison but just a little mixed in with the L'Oreal foundation creates the perfect finish and colour for my skin in the summer, so that's why I'll be taking a 2nd!

Next of course I couldn't go without concealer so in there I've thrown in my trusty Collection Lasting Perfection 16 hour concealer, perfect for the job and it's small, so perfect for travelling!

To then add some colour to my face I have a blush, this isn't a Barry M blush I just had to re-pot as it had shattered everywhere from the previous pan. If you can't tell already I love this blush which is why it had to be re-potted, it's a little hassle to use but I just tap a little into the lid and swirl my brush and it's fine! This is just a natural pink colour to give a flush on the cheeks with a little shimmer in. Usually I wouldn't be keen on shimmer but it's ever so slight and gives a glow to the cheeks also! No need to pack a highlight, great!

Moving on to eyes, mascara! I couldn't leave the house without a quick flick of mascara as quite frankly I look dead! Mascara just opens my eyes and makes me look more awake, so I've packed 2- again none in particular just ones I had lying in my stash to use up! I don't really notice the difference in mascaras as they all seem to have the same effect on my eyelashes, so I've packed both Rimmel mascaras, the Scandal Eyes for my top lashes and the Extra WOW lash for the bottom!

I could go without eye shadow each day but I love creating subtle looks to make my face look more made up and like I've made an effort! So in I've put the MUA Heaven and Earth palette which are a range of natural slightly shimmery shades to create subtle or more dramatic looks as each of the shades are so versatile! Also I forgot to mention, there are 12 different eye shadows in this tiny compact palette so again, perfect for travelling!

For my brows I sweep through the Maybelline Brow Drama brow mascara in Medium Brown- this matches my brow colour perfectly and makes them look fuller and more put together!

Last but not least, moving on to lips! I love applying lipstick last as I feel it just pulls the look together, providing you choose the correct shade not to clash with your blush or even eye makeup! Of course, i'm not the expert but I've included a range of 4 shades that are practically fool proof for the looks I tend to create on a daily basis. From left to right, MUA in shade 14 Bare, Natural Collection in Rose Bud, No7 in Vanity(bare in mind this is old, passed onto me by my Auntie who's quite the makeup hoarder) and lastly another MUA lipstick in the shade Nectar.

Bare- the perfect nude colour liptick- I think this could work for a range of skin tones too!
Rose Bud- a lovely pink colour that almost matches my actual lip colour so it's great for natural days!
Vanity- don't be fooled by the bullet like I was, this comes out as a natural brighter pink on my lips, I love it for a pop of colour!
Nectar- this is a lovely bright coral colour which looks amazing and so summery on a brighter day!

Last in the terms of actual makeup products is again another lip product, or eye for that matter! The Beverly Hills lip and eye primer, again passed down from my wonderful Auntie to make my lipstick and eye makeup last a lot longer on those warmer days!

Of course i'm taking makeup brushes to apply the makeup, these all fit in so nicely without squeezing them in and ever so slightly bending the bristles like I have done in the past! I'll list these like the lipsticks and explain what I use them for..
Eyelash Curlers
Real Techniques Buffing brush- buffing in foundation and concealer.
Real Techniques Pointed Foundation brush- applying foundation and concealer.
Real Techniques Contour brush- to apply blush.
Lydia eye shadow applicator- to apply the base shadow.
ELF Blending brush- to blend all eye makeup.
Real Techniques Detail brush- to apply a darker shade to the crease and outer corner.
Lydia Brow brush/comb- to brush through my brows and comb through my lashes.

And that's all for my travel makeup bag! For me this is just the right amount, admittedly I don't need to take 2 foundations, 2 mascaras and 4 lipsticks but if you've got the room- why not!? Let me know what's in your travel makeup bag or what would be if you were travelling this summer!

Until next time,

Amy X

July Favourites

Hello!
I honestly cannot believe how fast July has gone by, I feel like I say this each month but July has come by and gone in a flash! I didn't even get around to doing my June monthly favourites, but here I am back with with things I've been loving this July, as the title states!

The Body Shop Vitamin E Cream Cleanser- £8.50 here.

First up is The Body Shop Vitamin E Cream Cleanser(hoping this hasn't been mentioned in a favourites before). I purchased the smaller sized bottle of this to try it out before I spent £8.50 on the larger bottle and then find out I don't actually like it. I'm glad I did although after a few uses I realised I loved it, it's so gentle and makes my skin feel so clean and soft! I've also experienced less breakouts as a result of using just 2 cleansers, one in the morning and this in the night after removing my makeup! I've also tried the moisturiser from the same range and really like that too, so I think i'm definitely going to try more!

L'Oreal True Match and Rimmel Lasting Finish- here and here.

I had a Rimmel foundation sitting in my makeup storage that I haven't used in a while as I'm not too keen on the foundation on it's own- it's the shade up from what i'd usually get too. I thought rather than not waste it i'd mix a little with my current L'Oreal True Match foundation for the summer, believe it or not I do get a little colour on my face rather than being the palest of pales. The L'Oreal True Match offers a satin to matte finish but mixed with the Rimmel 25 hour foundation offers a dewy finish which I love in the summer, without looking oily! I love the colour and finish it gives on my skin so will definitely continue to use this combination throughout the summer!

Tea Tree Water (Toner Water)- £3.95 for 100ml here.

Eu Natural!

The last beauty related item i've been loving this month is the Lush Tea Tree Toner Water, again I purchased this in the smaller bottle to see if I liked it, i'm so pleased as the bottle isn't even that small- I think it's the perfect size to use within the use-by-date. I bought this as my skin can be quite oily so I thought i'd give this ago to combat the oils and keep my skin clean throughout the day and after cleansing. Tea Tree has anti-bacterial properties so is perfect to keep your skin at it's cleanest and prevent spots, i'd definitely give this a go if you have oily skin- it's also super refreshing in the warmer months!

The sandals I've been wearing, they're well worn in from H&M about 2 years ago.

Mentioning the warmer months there, Wales is actually experiencing 'Summer'. This is rare as normally we get the odd few days then the weathers back to its usual self, grey and dreary! The weather has been so nice recently, it's actually warm enough to go without a jacket and wear sandals..although that's not a favourite of mine, people with their feet out- not the prettiest sight! I've loved being out in the garden in the Sun to get my daily dose of Vitamin D, like we all should be! I hope the weather sticks around especially when I'm off on my travels to the South of England.

You may of seen me mention a few times that my sisters moving out, and that she has now! Although that's not what I've been enjoying but I have been enjoying shopping with her. We've been quite often recently and although I do like shopping on my own, I don't mind accompanying her when she wants to do some shopping. After all, who would say no to shopping? Not me! Keep an eye out, you'll see a haul here very soon!

Lemon Ice Tea in the sun.

Last but not least, I've been loving drinking Lemon Ice Tea- so refreshing in the summer! I only actually tried it a month or 2 ago but I actually love it! I'm so glad I ventured out to try something new as I don't do that often. I do enjoy the Lipton Ice Tea(only the lemon flavour) when i'm out and about, but my Mum also buys a big bottle from I think it's Lidl as she spotted it in there when buying our fruit!

That's it for this months favourites, what have you been enjoying this month? Let me know!

Amy X

L'Oreal True Match Foundation- My Thoughts

Hello guys!
Today I thought I'd get up a review and my opinions on the much loved L'Oreal True Match Foundation.
This was a foundation I was eager to try after hearing so many good reviews and bloggers stating it was very similar to the MAC Studio Fix fluid, this sold me! So quickly I got down to Boots and the lovely lady matched me up, I was the shade I though I was- N1 Ivory. I loved the look this foundation gave, she applied a primer underneath although I'm not too sure which but I really liked the finish it gave.

L'Oreal True Match Foundation- N1 Ivory
(Please ignore my extremely red hand, I had just washed my face with warm water, so maybe that's why)

Anyway off I went, very pleased with my purchase at only £9.99. I rushed home quickly after doing a tad more shopping and took the makeup off and applied the foundation myself, using the Real Techniques Buffing brush from the Core Collection. My initial thoughts were that I really liked the foundation, the formula, the colour, the coverage and the finish. I'll explain a little why-

(Please ignore the photo quality, apprently this one didn't want to go larger)

• The formula is perfect for me, a light liquid that blends really easily so is perfect for makeup newbies!
• The colour matched perfectly just as I expected it too, seeing as the name of it is 'True Match' and also being a vast range of colours to suit all skin and undertones. 
• As the lady explained the foundation offers a medium coverage that is buildable and I definitely agree with that. I think it's perfect for more minimal days and those days where you want a little more coverage, it also doesn't cake!
• And last but not least the finish, I'd say it was a matte/satin finish. I love the finish it gives as it looks so natural and sinks into the skin so nicely.

I've been using the foundation consecutively for about 3 weeks now and I can honestly say I love it! I definitely think i'll be repurchasing this, although I would also like to try the MAC Studio Fix too. I cannot say it's a dupe or very similar to the MAC foundation myself as I have not tried it yet, but when I do I will obviously let you know, although so many beauty bloggers and vloggers have confirmed this!
I'd recommend this for those with normal/oily or even dry skin, as I've not experienced the foundation clinging to any of my drier areas, so an all-rounder really!

I hope you've enjoyed this review, I've tried to keep it as short as possible but there's so much to say about this foundation!
Have you tried this foundation, what are your thoughts? Would you try this foundation based on this review? Let me know!

Until next time,

Amy X

A few beauty buys!

Hello!

So i'm aware the last post that went up was written before and was a tad out of date by a few days when it was finally posted, but this one won't be! Today I'm going to share with you a few beauty purchases that I've accumulated recently, as many bloggers explain 'these were collected over a few [insert length of time here]', and these very much were but I can't remember exactly when these few items were bought. So i'm gunna get right into it and try and present this is some kind of order.

Vitamin E Cream Cleanser- The Body Shop

First i'll start with skincare, now I only bought one item of skincare this time- it's the Vitamin E Cream Cleanser from The Body Shop. As you can see I purchased the smaller version of 60ml at £3.00, to try it out before I purchased the full size. I love the Vitamin E range from The Body Shop, it seems like just what my skin needs! I've tried both the moisturiser and eye cream, so definitely wanted to get my hands on the cleanser as I'm trying to get into a solid routine to sort my skin out. I'm hoping to give a more in-depth review on this in the near future and perhaps this may feature in my 'skincare routine' once I get it sorted.

L'Oreal True Match Foundation in shade N1 'Ivory'- Boots

Next i'll move onto makeup as the following 3 items are. First up here is the L'Oreal True Match foundation, I have this in shade Ivory which I do believe is a very good match for my skin tone. I've wanted to try this for a while now as I've seen many people rave about it, I felt like my previous foundation just wasn't doing it for me anymore so bit the bullet and got myself matched. I felt so pleased with myself, I told her that I thought I was shade Ivory but I wanted to be sure, so she went ahead and matched me- I was shade Ivory after all. I really like this foundation so far, but she used a primer before hand and I much preferred how it looked then, so I think I better get down and purchase a decent primer too!

MUA Lipstick in Shade 14 'Bare'- Superdrug

I purchased 2 lipsticks, one MUA and the other Maybelline. First I picked up the MUA lipstick in shade 14 'Bare'. This is just a really lovely nude in my opinion and I think it really suits my skin tone, 'Caitlynslifex' on YouTube recommended this and I loved the look of it, so for £1 I couldn't leave it.

Maybelline Color Sensational Popsticks- Tesco Direct

'Cherry Pop'

The second one I picked up, well I didn't actually pick up-

I ordered it from Tesco Direct, strange place huh? I can't remember which exactly but a blog I follow on bloglovin suggested looking at the offers on Tesco Direct in the makeup section, I saw she purchased this Maybelline Popstick in 'Cherry Pop' and I loved the look of it, and at £1.80(usually priced at around £7) again I could not leave it!

L'Oreal Prefernece Wild Ombre Kit in shade 'No. 1'- Boots

Last but certainly not least is this L'Oreal Preference Wild Ombre Dip Dye Hair Kit in shade No. 1. This dye is for light brown to dark brown so I'm pretty sure this will work on my hair as mine is more of a dark blonde to light brown currently. I didn't really purchase this to follow the trend of 'ombre/dip dyed' hair, I'm wanting to go lighter as before I was a mousy brown with lighter tones, so this will be a starting point for me. I'm planning to do from the middle of the ear down blonde, and then depending on the outcome will go from there, I don't really have a specific aim but I know I just want to end with a lightish ashy blonde colour as I originally was. I'll keep you updated once I pluck up the courage to go for it!

So that concludes this post of my recent beauty buys. I'm hoping to be blogging a lot more often then I have been the past few months, so keep your eyes peeled for reviews, wishlists and lifestyle posts to come very soon! Hope you've enjoyed this post, why not comment below some recent purchases of your own? I'd love to hear as I'm always on the look out for new things, the shopaholic in me screams.

Until next time,

Amy X