WHAT'S IN MY BAG

'What's in my bag' posts and videos have a very special place in my heart as they were my first introduction to the online beauty community. I remember back in 2006 (for my sanity, let's not even reflect on how long ago that was) I would come home from school and spend my time watching these kinds of videos - namely rewatching as YouTube definitely didn't have the variety it does now back in the day. There is some addictive quality about them, and I'm sure everyone reading this has a similar story about their introduction to the beauty community, or simply an addiction to watching them!

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Burgundy Times Nine

As much as I've heard the complimentary colour rules over and over in the beauty world, the idea of anything red toned around my eyes never appealed to me. Picking up a super affordable burgundy Kiko shadow some months ago on the insistence of a friend, I fell in love with not only the way the shadow looked but how much greener it made my eyes appear - it really was like magic! That's how I came to find myself considering a palette full of these warm, russety shades at a MAC store in the depths of Paris.

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Vamp

A gorgeous rich and dark lip has to be one of my favourite makeup looks of all time. For the past two years now I've been trying to find the lipstick and liner that are just right for me in terms of colour and formulation, and I'm glad to say that I have finally found them! Combined, this liner and lipstick create a lip dark enough to give that edge I'm looking for, but also red enough that it can be worn in a multitude of ways. The products in question? MAC's lipliner in 'Burgundy' and lipstick in 'Sin'. Now, aside from that perfect deep, oxblood colour I was looking for - these two provide a lovely matte but non-drying finish as well.

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Brave

I only have a small collection of MAC lipsticks, each one carefully picked to ensure that I would not regret the purchase. What I realised about my collection is that it's comprised of shades that are neutral enough for everyday, but are also more 'out there' than a true everyday shade. I adore Velvet Teddy possibly the most, but sometimes you're not in the mood for a straight up matte-brown lip and want something more lively and fresh. This is what prompted me to go hunting, along with the 19 euro price point which makes MAC lipsticks almost as affordable as the Sephora own brand - which to an Australian is heaven. 

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What's In My Travel Makeup Bag?

I have honestly been dreading the time where it came to sitting down and sorting through my makeup in preparation for my exchange program since I found out I was leaving, however when it came to it I had no difficulties except on the lip product front - but that's a separate post in itself! When I look at this, it seems excessive in a way because I will undoubtedly be shopping while I'm away, but it also does cover all of the bases and I do use these products almost daily.

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My Lipstick Collection

I was a little daunted to do this post as I thought my collection was quite large compared to the other components of my makeup collection, but it has been a post on the top of my to-do list for awhile now. However, after handing off some shades I never use to my sister my collection of products I actually enjoy and use is much more manageable! I've divided them up into colour sections and will provide a mini review for each, just incase you're interested. I will also link any full-reviews I have done on them, if I have them!

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What's In My Bag?

I had always been the kind of person who loves to lug their life around with them in their bag, a master of the "just in case" justifications we make on packing seemingly crazy items - because hey, that bottle of glasses cleaner will definitely come in handy if I smudge my glasses. However, after condensing my wallet into my tiny Mimco pouch I started only carrying that around with me and realised how much lighter and better I felt for it. If you are someone who wants to convert to a more minimalist, everyday, bag think of this post as a rough guide on how to get there.

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Velvet Teddy

I never thought I would be the one to say this, but I am currently obsessed with nudes! For a long time I just couldn't find shades that suited me especially as I'm fair, so I figured nudes weren't for me. Over the past year I have found one or two that I really love, including the Maybelline Colour Drama Velvet Lip Pencil in 'Nude Perfection', which had to be my favourite of the bunch. When these lip pencils first launched I heard so many comparisons between 'Nude Perfection' and MACs 'Velvet Teddy' that I was instantly intrigued.

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My Holy Grail Foundation

Foundations are something I have generally had a hate/hate relationship with in the past. With a clear, generally even complexion foundation doesn't really have much to offer, and in some cases it even made my skin look worse. My sister pestered me to try MAC's Face and Body and physically had to drag me to the MAC counter to pick up a sample because she knew it was exactly what I was looking for.

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Custom Coverage

As someone who swears by sponges, finding a face brush that I love as much, possibly even more, is a big deal. While I love the finish a sponge can give, I did notice how much product they suck up and how much more foundation I needed to get a light coverage. After trialling the Expert Face Brush from Real Techniques for a while, and seeing how much other loved it while I didn't, I figured brushes just weren't for me.

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What's In My Makeup Bag?

I received a comment the other day from a reader saying that they would love to see what was in my pug makeup bag and I realised that I had never done a post like this. This bag is everything I use often and the things I like to have on hand at all times. While I don't wear all of this makeup every day, it's full of all of my favourites and I thought a mini review on each product would make this post a little more interesting!

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My Day In Pictures #1

This is a series I have wanted to start for a really long time, but I've just never had a day full of "photo worthy" moment. Usually they're unglamorous and I look back on what I captured and I just don't feel inspired to share them. Today was different, and I am so excited to share my first 'Day in Pictures' post.

Today was a really relaxed day but a productive one at that. I got up early to study and catch up on some first week of uni admin type stuff and snuck in a lecture or two as well. Because it was a chilly day today, I finally got to wear my oversized ombre sweater. I bought it a week a go and have been pining for the right weather, but it's been too warm up until now.

I spent most of the afternoon working, but a bit later on I went for a drive and looked around a few shops to get out of the house and take a break. I have been really nervy when it comes to driving lately, as I finally got the thumbs up from my instructor to book my test so I'm finding flaws in everything and psyching myself out.

What was your day like today?

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My Favourite Lip Product Formulas

Lip product formulation is a deal breaker to me, regardless of how stunning a colour is. Unless it is perfect, I don't find myself reaching for it. I love things to be creamy and opaque and I have rounded up the brands that do it best. These are all products that I've loved since the very first application.

MAC Lipsticks "Amplified" Formula
This is not matte, but it is not glossy either. It's just a great in-between that is opaque and easy to wear regardless of the state of your lips. I'm not going to lie, most of MACs formulas are spot on, but I really love this one in particular and recommend you checking them out if you haven't!

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipsticks
These are an incredible, moisturising and glossy formula which is definitely saying something as I usually am not a gloss fan. These lipsticks are incredibly opaque, which is what I love the very most about them. This is a range I would love to see extended as there are only a handful of shades that I would want to purchase.

Kate Moss for Rimmel Lipsticks
Rimmel really do lips well, evidently. This is another incredible formulation, but most of the collection leans more towards the creamy/matte side. This collection is also much broader in the colour department and has something for everyone. I recommend this formulation to people all the time!

Revlon Colourburst Matte Balms
These are incredible and I haven't heard a single bad review on them! They have a nice range, and I'm sure their glossier formula are just as lovely. The thing I love most about these is their minty smell, as I'm a freak when it comes to mint.

Topshop Lipsticks
I love Topshop largely for their range of on trend colours, but their formulation is usually spot on no matter what it may be. They are a great, affordable brand to try if you can get your hands on them, especially for unique shades that just aren' that common in the pharmacy.

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet
This is another incredible formula that's major flaw is the shade range. I really am not a red person, no matter how much I wish I was, and would love to see some more neutral shades in the mix. These are super long wearing, although they are removed with eating, but for this reason they aren't the drying liquid lipsticks you might have tried in this past. These definitely can be applied on slightly chapped lips, which is definitely a rare quality in the liquid department.

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January Favourites

One of my New Years resolutions when it came to blogging was to try and get out more monthly favourites post, as my one and only favourites post last year was my most popular post of all time. I've been excited to write this post and have been thinking about it all month long!

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MACs 'Fast Play'

I have expressed my love for the 90s lip trend countless times before and have reviewed so many lip liners and lipsticks that I have exhausted the topic. Well, that was until I picked up MACs 'Fast Play' and I knew I had to share this gem, as I haven't heard much on it before.

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Confessions of a Concealer Fiend: My Daily Duo

It was not my intention to make it look as though the concealers were sunbathing on a beach alongside a model, I just loved the texture of the sand and water, but I guess that's the visual we're going with today. As a self proclaimed "concealer fiend" you can imagine that I take concealers very seriously. I weigh up which ones I want to buy with care and anything proclaimed "holy grail" by another blogger I instantly lust after like crazy.

While I haven't dubbed anything holy grail as of yet, these two are what have come the closest for me and what I use on a daily basis. They are both products you have probably seen a million times before and are rolling your eyes looking at them now, but trust me, they're hyped for a reason!

Maybelline's Age Rewind is so light and blends into the under eye area seamlessly, yet provides such a nice coverage. It doesn't make sense to me, but I'm not complaining. If I'm applying makeup this will be a part of it without fail. I actually "shopped my stash" and pulled this out again a few months ago and I don't know how I had been without it for so long! If you've been putting off trying this I highly recommend taking the plunge because you won't be disappointed.

MAC's Pro Longwear (NW20) is a perfect match for me, so I tend to use it more for areas that don't need brightening. This is the perfect concealer for the "spot treating" method of foundation application, where you apply a super light base and simply add a high-coverage product to the areas that need it. This blends into the skin beautifully so you can use it in larger areas without fear it will look cakey, yet it still has such a high coverage!

Do you have a holy grail concealer and if not what comes closest?

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The Wishlist: High End

High end and luxury makeup is something all of us bloggers tend to go a little crazy and get insane bouts of lust over. Our wishlists are never reasonable or even probable, but they are called "wish" lists for a reason. These are the things I'm currently dreaming about...

MAC Lipliner in 'Nightmoth'
Aside from hating the name due to my insane moth phobia, the colour is stunning and perfect for the hoard of burgundy and purple-hued lipsticks I have in my stash at the moment. This is on the more probable end of the wishlist, however I always worry about not getting enough use out of stand out products like this.

MAC 217 Blending Brush
If I had to pick a favourite makeup brush it would definitely be a blender. They are not only multi-use but really do make all the difference in a makeup look. It seems as though every other product could be applied with hands or the like, but shadows will never look flawless without copious blending. This is a cult favourite, so naturally it is one I need to try!

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers
I have a keen fear of my eyelash curlers ever since they pulled out a few lashes very painfully a week or two back, so I've been on the hunt for something a little more pricey that also look more safe. My heart is set on this stunning pair by Shu Uemura and I have heard amazing things!

Nars Dual Intensity Eyeshadow in 'Callisto'
While there are many, many stunning shades in this collection, naturally the super neutral one stands out to me most. What I love about this is that it looks like a one-shade lid kind of shadow and definitely gives off the glistening metallic vibe that I'm coveting for this summer.

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in 'Glastonberry'
RE: Nightmoth, I'm in a burgundy-berry obsessed haze which is odd considering summer is around the corner here. Regardless of how unseasonal I may look, I am in love and insist on rocking this look. This looks like the perfect shade and the formulation sounds incredible, especially as I find matte lips quite drying.

Chanel Rouge Allure Glosses
This is a "no, no, no" in my head but a definite yes in wishlist land. Everything about these appeal to me. The formulation looks great for a gloss and can we take a minute to appreciate the packaging? Anything clickable I'm down for, especially when it comes to makeup!

Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Palette in 'The Dolce Vita'
I've seen this on one too many blogs to not be head over heels in lust with it. The colours are simple and very everyday while also giving the air of luxury that comes with all Charlotte Tilbury products. There are a lot of dupes for this selection colour wise, but nothing comes with that stunning gold glitter!

LORAC Mega PRO Palette
As a huge, huge fan and advocate of the LORAC PRO palette, this is a dream. I've heard mixed reviews, but if the shadows are of the same quality as the original I would be hooked. I also love that they have put a lot of effort into creating new shadows rather than reusing the old ones.

NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser
I'm a light base lover and I've been steered in this direction so many times! I know that I'll be obsessed so I don't know why I've held off picking it up for so long. This is definitely something that will be making it's way into my collection sooner or later.

What is on your high end wishlist?

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Hey There Bright Eyes

For someone with under eyes as tired looking as mine I need a whole arsenal of products that are going to brighten things up and make me look at least a little bit awake. I focus on this area most of all when doing my makeup as it is the area I feel the most insecure about, so I've tried a lot of brightening products and know what I like.

I am an absolute concealer fiend and have tried most of the cult favourites. When it comes to brightening I love my Maybelline Instant Age Rewind, which really needs no introduction. This is so talked about for a reason - it's lightweight under the eyes with decent coverage and brightening effects. I don't think this "erases" dark circles, but it does visibly brighten and just make the whole area look a lot better. Another I like to use is the MAC Pro Longwear concealer which is a higher coverage with a thicker formula, but definitely brightens and aids dark circles immensely. Because this is a heavier formula I don't wear it on a day to day basis, but when I want a flawless face this is my weapon of choice.

Sometimes concealer just doesn't cut it and you need a few tricks to brighten things up even more. I am a big, big fan of the inner corner highlight as this is the area that gets the most dark. I love using my Benefit 'Watts Up?" as it's a cream formula and stays all day, but any highlighting product will do. Next I like to line my waterline with my Rimmel Scandal Eyes in 'Nude' which not only takes away the redness but makes your eyes look bigger and therefore more alert.

The most noticeable change I find is the application of mascara. I like to curl my lashes, as the perkier the lashes the brighter the eye, and apply a coat or two of a lengthening and thickening mascara such as my Revlon Grow Luscious. This makes such a difference and if you don't have time for all the concealer and highlighting even just this step will help.

What are your bright eyed tips and what is the best concealer you have ever tried?

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Topshop's 'Depth' Lipstick

I've been obsessed with MAC's 'Cyber' for the longest time. It is such a bold, beautiful and most of all striking shade. I never picked it up because I was worried about never wearing it due to it's amazing intensity. When I spotted 'Depth' in Topshop I knew it was the perfect way to trial the colour as it's a near identical dupe.

The quality of this is amazing, and I love that the finish isn't matte as that's usually all I can find when it comes to super dark lipsticks. It's not insanely glossy, but there is definitely a sheen and I would say that it has a finish very similar to 'Cyber'. When it comes to pigmentation this is on the mark, a single swipe and you have amazing colour payoff. I swatched it on paper so you could see the purple colour, but on the lips it definitely leans more towards being black.

I love this shade and I can't wait to wear it with a cat eye! The only issue is that it is hard to apply neatly, what shade of lipliner would you recommend for lips this dark?

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