What's in My Makeup Bag | Travel Edition

If you follow me on Instagram (@beautylocale) then you may know that last week my Mum and I took a short trip over to Perth for the Easter long weekend. Apart from a trip to Europe last year when I had to be quite sparing and smart with my makeup choices because of weight/space issues, I think this may be one of the first times I've had to pack a makeup bag that's going to have to get me through more than an overnight. So this meant sorting through my stash and picking out the bits that I thought I'd be able to transition from day to night, multi-task with and the products that would be suitable for warmer weather.

I tried to be fairly restrained with the amount of makeup I took because it wasn't like I was going to be hitting the clubs with my Mum and would need everything for an intense smokey eye.. but I did need a few bits that I could use for more night time makeup even just for when we went out to dinner. Enough rambling, here are all the bits I chose to take with me- my favourite daily essentials + a few (or more than a few) extras to fulfil said needs! This is purely the makeup bits but I did post a photo on my Instagram page of the brushes that I took with me.

Cheapest Beauty Tools Everyone Needs

This post may seem obvious to some but these few bits are some of the cheapest but most useful things that I have on hand 24/7 and will do so in the foreseeable future.

Numero uno: Tissues! Just some refined and processed paper but something so simple is just so handy. First tip- use just one ply of a tissue (i.e. pull one tissue's sheet off) and dab it over your face once you've applied your foundation. This is a handy tip I picked up from Wayne Goss but it just picks up any excess makeup and oils which is great for ensuring your makeup is long lasting. Similarly if you find you've overdone it on the blush or bronzer, just lightly dab a tissue over your face and again it'll lift any excess makeup and there you have a quick easy fix! Putting a folded tissue under your eye if you're doing a heavy eye look will prevent excess from falling onto your face and make clean up much easier. As well as this, tidying up the edges of your eye look is as easy as lightly (keyword) dragging a tissue upwards towards your hairline.

Number two: Cotton Tips. Again for the eye area, cotton tips are your best friend for correcting any mistakes. Sometimes when I'm in a rush my mascara application can be a little hasty and therefore a bit messy so this is where cotton tips are my number one pal. Handy tip is to wait a minute or two for the mascara to dry and it'll come off much more easily than if you try to do it when it's first applied and still wet. I buy the cotton tips that are designed for makeup so they have one side with a pointed tip and the other side is flat and almost an eyeshadow brush shape. The pointed side is perfect in helping tidy up liquid liner and create a sharper line and you can even apply shadow with the other side if you're brushless.

Number three: Cotton Pads. I prefer to use the large oval ones that I pick up from Priceline, I can never seem to find them in the supermarket but these are a must have for removing makeup teamed up with my Bioderma. The larger size means you use less and can cover more of your face. The smaller more standard cotton rounds are of course perfect for removing nail polish but to be honest I've been using those polish removing tubs more recently so haven't had need for them.

Number four: Sticky Tape. Your bestest chum when it comes to an intense eye look because with its aid you can create the most crisp line at the outer edge you ever saw! Line the tape up with the outer corner of your eye, up to the tail of your eyebrow and that is generally where your eyeshadow should stop. By placing some tape on first, it makes it super easy to have a perfect edge without having to be too careful and then correcting with concealer at the end. If you're using normal tape just pop it onto the back of your (clean) hand to take some of the stickiness off otherwise it can tug at your eye when you try to take it off. Alternatively the matte tape is better because it isn't so adhesive or sticky tab notes are perfect as well.

Sorry if this was all a bit stating the obvious but I was just thinking about all these products' uses and thought, hey! I'm gonna blog about that. Hopefully it was useful in some way!

Friend's Faces | Evening Look

So my beautiful friend, Ainsley nominated herself to be the next appearance on my blog in terms of a makeup look and it just so happened that we had a 21st to go to so perfect opportunity! This was now almost two weeks ago I think but I've just been so busy at work and haven't had time to be bloggin'. It was a cooler evening so it definitely felt like Winter was approaching. Ainsley was wearing a mostly black outfit so I had free reign in terms of colour on her face. Her signature look is a simple winged eye and for the evenings she sometimes adds a little shimmer to the inside corner or all over the lid. I think doing a full glam makeup look was a bit out of her comfort zone but ah well, that's what best friends are for, right?

As it was quite a while ago, I can't remember the exact products I used and didn't get a chance to do a 'makeup mess' photo of all the products as I had to slap on my own face after hers. From what I remember for the eye base I used a mix of two cream eyeshadows, Benefit's RSVP and MUFE's #17 on the outer corner for darker definition. For eyeshadows I'm pretty sure majority was using the Sleek Makeup Storm Palette and a few random MAC shades where I fancied. Subtle contouring using MAC Harmony, a bold wing using Maybelline's gel liner, lashings of mascara and a fairly neutral shade on the lips. *As a face base I used Bourjois Healthy Mix which was Ainsley's own and a spritz of Fix + to set it all for the evening ahead!

Ainsley has her own YouTube channel which is travel based as in the past 2 years she's been a hell of a lot of places including a 6 month exchange in Bristol, England. Go check her out and SUBSCRIBE!

xx

Get To Know Me Tag

1. What’s your favourite way to style your hair?

I am pretty lazy when it comes to an everyday hairstyle so I usually end up with a ponytail whether it be high or low or as well half up/half down I sport quite regularly and love. 

2. What’s that one movie that you could re-watch over and over again?

The old classics (not legitimate classics, more like for our generation) so Mean Girls came to mind straight away and I have seen it way way too many times and know all the lines but still love it. 

3. Do you have any pets?? I wanna hear all about them!

Sadly no pets! 

4. What’s on your nails right now? Nothing…what polish is due to be applied next?

I'm currently wearing Sally Hansen 'Commander in Chic' from their Salon Manicure range which I love. Such good quality! My work has just changed the rules (again) about nail polish so it'll have to be something neutral. 

5. What’s your favourite thing about blogging?

The whole beauty blogger community! Everyone sharing their thoughts, talent and product reviews is so great. 

6. Bold eyes or Bold lips?

Ooh depends on daytime/night time and how I feel! I think for the most part.. bold lips. 

7. If you could only blog about one brand’s products, which brand would it be?

One brand?! Heavens above that's so hard! I'm going to cheat and say L'Oreal Luxe or Mecca Maxima.. 

8. Your most loved/used product.

Brows/mascara are my most used product probably and one of my most loved is the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette to make me look flawless. 

9. Would you rather have forever flawless skin and not be able to wear any other makeup or never being able to wear a base (foundation, BB cream) but being able to wear eyeshadow, mascara, blush, eyeliner, lipstick, etc?

Flawless skin with nothing else can look a little odd and lack definition so I guess everything else without a base. 

10. The one think you hate about applying makeup.

Spending so much time on your whole face and then getting mascara on your cheek, eyelid or somewhere you just don't want it. 

Sunday Saviours

Sunday evenings have become my pamper/rejuvenating night so I can start my week feeling fresh and pampered! Here are a few bits and pieces that I generally like to do and products I love using.

If it's a wash hair day, I'll treat my locks to a hair mask if I haven't already that week and at the moment I'm loving the L'Oreal EverCreme Deep Nourishing Masque which you just pop on for a few minutes after shampooing while you're in the shower. As that's soaking in and working it's magic I like to exfoliate and use either the Soap & Glory Flake Away or Breakfast Scrub exfoliants or if I have a few more minutes, the Frank Coffee Body Scrub. All smell amazing and leave my skin feeling silky smooth but the Frank one is meant to reduce scarring and even out skin texture and minimise all the bits that us ladies hate.

Next I like to moisturise and for an all over option I love the Aesop Body Balms or a more recent find is the L'Occitane Firming and Smoothing Milk Concentrate which is part of their 'Amande' range and boy does this smell good. Well, obviously all of these do otherwise why would I have bought them?! Sunday evenings also call for a good old face mask and at the moment I have a few on rotation depending on my skin's need so I'll use either the Origins 10 Minute Recovery Mask or their Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask which I've sadly just finished and need to repurchase. I'm also loving Lush's Mask of Magnaminty which is amazing for clarifying and exfoliating. A nice hydrating facial moisturiser and eye cream to follow up and I'm done.

Once I'm feeling fresh as a daisy I like to do my nails for the week or at least the beginning of the week. A good base coat like Essie's Ridge Filler or Sally Hansen Bottom Coat then a few coats of whatever colour I'm feeling that particular evening followed by a top coat to protect it and give it extra shine, either Seche Vite or Sally Hansen Insta Dry. When they're definitely dry (key word- definitely. Too many times have I been impatient and not waited long enough and resulted in smudging.. so annoying and definitely #firstworldproblems) I'll use a nice hand moisturiser, generally one of the mini L'Occitane offerings that I have laying around.

And I'm done! Feel ultra pampered, fresh and ready for the week ahead! What do you like to do on your pamper evenings?

Instagram- @beautylocale

A Few March Favourites

Can't believe we're in April already, this year seems to be speeding by which is both worrying and exciting because the end of the year has more exciting things for me to look forward to! Thought I'd share with you a few of my favourites that I've been enjoying not only throughout March but this year to date as I haven't done a 'favourites' post as such yet. I do often post my thoughts and mini reviews on my instagram (@beautylocale) if you prefer more tidbits and brief reviews/thoughts on products I've been using.

To prevent this post from being thousands of words long, I'll just give a short-ish review and try to make my thoughts succinct. Yeah good luck Millie, aka Queen of Rambling..

Alrighty first up I'll talk about the newest addition to L'Oreal's base range- Nude Magique which is a recent launch for us Aussies but I'm pretty sure was launched maybe even last year for the Northern Hemisphere. This is definitely receiving mixed reviews from what I've seen but I'm really enjoying it so far. I find it hard to get a foundation that I love, doesn't break me out/irritate my skin, is a good match and lastly doesn't make my skin extra oily. This is described as a liquid to powder formula which I've definitely found. It is a very watery consistency but when applied does turn to a more powdery finish but not cakey-powdery. I have shade #120 Pure Ivory which is the lightest shade in the range and a pretty good match for me. (For reference I'm a MAC NC 15-20). This has pretty good lasting power, doesn't break up too badly throughout the day and *touch wood* hasn't reacted with my skin.

The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette. *Insert heart-eyed emoji* Honestly I wish I could make that face in real life because everything would be communicated so much more easily. I was excited that they brought out a trio palette so I could get a taster for these powders as individually I think they run for around $62 and the palette came in at just over $100 from memory.. Absolutely love Dim Light for giving my skin that diffused look and evens out texture beautifully. Incandescent Light is a beautiful highlight shade for more evening type looks on the high points of the face without shining like a disco ball. Again from Hourglass is their most recent release- the Ambient Lighting Blush which I have in Dim Infusion, a beautiful coral with lighter tones marbled through it. No exaggeration I think I've worn this 99% of the days since I purchased it and I was not disappointed. Again there's a lot of mixed reviews on these I think mostly because of the huge hype that was created and so therefore I guess people have high hopes but I for one, am in love and want more. Oh dear.

Mario Basdescu Drying Lotion; I have heard so much about this product on YouTube and the like but since I found my holy grail Origins Spot Remover, I didn't think I needed it. I was wrong. I find this is really good for spots that I can feel lurking under the surface waiting to pounce whereas the Origins one I like more for spots that have already surfaced that need drying out. I like to apply the Drying Lotion to any spots or whiteheads that need aren't necessarily visible but I can feel and know will eventually come out. Anyway gross talk over, the stuff is good and very effective.

My Inglot Freedom Palette that I put together at the Bondi Junction store in Sydney at the end of last year. I wanted something that if necessary, I could throw in my bag and would have everything I need to do my makeup on the go. More and more I was finding myself having to do my makeup on the train, well at least my mascara if i had to run out the door. Now I have learnt to better manage my time but I still reach for this palette almost every day for an easy 'everyday' eye for work. The colours are all neutral, so right up my alley and I find they complement my eyes nicely. The quality is definitely comparable to that of MAC and Urban Decay and these run for around $10 each plus the palette but still well under the price point of MAC in Australia.

This past month I've really been loving lipgloss for everyday, especially at work I do a lot of talking so I find lipglosses to be a bit more hydrating and comfortable for a long day. No surprise, like every other beauty junkie I've been in love with the NYX Butter Glosses. I have a few shades, love them all and everything about them. In the past I've really not been into lipgloss much (Check out my lipstick tag, I wrote more on this) mostly because of the tacky feel and that overly glossy look it's just not for me but these have absolutely changed my mind. They feel really nice on the lips, very smooth not gritty and not tacky my lips definitely don't get stuck together when I'm wearing these. Continuing on the lipgloss chat, during Priceline's 40% off sale I picked up one of the new Maybelline ColourSensational High Shine gloss in 110- Mirrored Mauve. At first I wasn't sure about the smell but it's grown on me and now I'm just trying to figure out what it actually reminds me of.. definitely something sweet I'm thinking a soft drink or lolly but every time I wear it I'm still trying to pinpoint what it is!

I've also been really conscious of my hair looking a bit dry in recent months so I bought the L'Oreal EverCreme Deep Nourishing Masque to go with my shampoo and conditioner because I knew I loved those already and this is no different. I use this at least once a week depending on how many times I wash my hair and just leave it on for a few minutes after shampooing, rinse it out and that's it. It doesn't take 10-15 minutes like a lot of others do which is one of the reasons I love it so much. I can honestly tell a big difference in my hair, it's less frizzy and feels a lot softer.

Last of all is a perfume I've been loving which is YSL's Manifesto. I bought this for my mum last year when I was in Europe because she'd asked me to but there was no tester when I bought it so I just went on her word. Obviously I didn't open it before I gave it to her so had no idea what it smelt like but then everyday she wore it I was like I need that it smells sooo good! So, I put it on my Christmas wishlist and I was lucky enough to be given it. I just got a 30mL size becauseI had wanted to keep it in my handbag but the bottle is quite heavy and I didn't want to forget about it. I'm almost halfway through already, which considering how many perfumes I have on rotation at the moment is pretty impressive and a sure sign that I love it. It's top notes are bergamot and green notes with base notes of sambac jasmine, sensual woods and vanilla. That is probably quite useless sorry.. I just took it from the YSL website. If you're in a department store I advise you to go and give it a sniff!

A few little extras I'll throw in are some albums I've had on repeat on my ipod, in my car and on my laptop so I think I like them a little bit.. Beyonce's self titled album is amazing, I'm definitely not the first one to say it so I won't ramble on about it. Also, Pharrell's new album GIRL which I bought the other week off iTunes and I really like the whole album. It's quite different from the single 'Happy' which is the only song that's been released. There's cameos from Justin Timberlake and Alicia Keys and I've just really been enjoying it.

There are so many more but I won't keep rambling for now, I'll just reserve my thoughts for later down the track..

Regular posts on Instagram- @beautylocale