What's in my makeup bag 2015

The last time I wrote one of these blog posts was back in October 2012. Had I have known it was that long ago, I would have done this sooner.

Quite a few of the products have changed and since 2012 I have ditched the BB creams and powder and opted for a single foundation instead. There's an obvious distinction between summer and winter makeup too and it seems that I currently have a bareMinerals and Benefit obsession, but rather than babbling on, here's what I've been storing in my makeup bag in 2015 so far...



Rimmel Wake Me Up Make Up Foundation (£8.99/30ml) has actually been my go-to foundation for a couple of years now and I find it really hard to steer away. Don't get me wrong, it doesn't last the longest but it is great at giving skin a real boost in the mornings. It's super light and does give skin an instant flawless finish. I like to apply mine with a slightly damp makeup sponge (No7 Flawless Finish Sponge).

Benefit BADGal Lash Mascara (£17.50) is a product I received as a gift at Christmas. I'll admit, it's not really my mascara of choice but it's in my makeup bag as a backup and great for popping into your handbag on a night out.

Benefit Porefessional Primer (£22.05/22ml) I absolutely love this product but tend use it quite sparingly, on top of my makeup to stop any particularly greasy areas. This product is a true gem!

bareMinerals Original SPF15 Foundation (£22.50) is probably my most favourite foundation, ever, ever, ever! I was introduced to this around five years or so ago, by a PR friend who insisted that I give it a whirl. Despite being totally anti-powder, I was converted and I've re-purchased ever since!

Benefit Posietint (£22.50) is a bit of an undecided product for me. I like the idea of a tint but hate the shade and therefore, it gets used very rarely. If anyone wants to recommend any other tints with a slightly less than luminous shade, please let me know in the comments below.

Benefit Erase Paste Concealer and Highlighter (£18.45) is another product that I love which is great for masking pesky spots. Although the shade is slightly too dark for my skin tone, dabbing over with a sponge and setting with a little powder blends this concealer perfectly. 

Estée Lauder Advanced Time Zone Age Reversing Line/Wrinkle Cream (£54/50ml) is currently my moisturiser of choice. I recently blogged about this fab product and explained why I will be sticking with this it for some time. 

bareMinerals Stroke of Light Eye Brightener (£22) was a product that I received as part of the bareMinerals Flawless Future Collection. To be honest, I find highlighters a slight waste of time (someone please tell me how to use this product more effectively) but I keep it in my make-up bag just in case. If you would like to read further, you can do so in my blog post here. 

bareMinerals Frame and Define Brow Styler (£13) is great for a quick fix. Although there isn't much else you can say, the brush on the end is perfect for taming unruly brows. 

Maybelline Lash Sensational Lash Multiplying Mascara (£7.99/9.5ml) I don't want to say too much about this product, because I will be reviewing soon in my Mascara Monologues series. Maybelline claims that this product contains their first "layer reveal brush to capture the tiniest of lashes you didn't know you had" as well as claiming to volumise and define the look of longer lashes. Keep your eyes peeled soon...

L'Oreal Paris Touche Magique Concealer (£8.19) also took pride of place in my makeup bag in 2012 and providing L'Oreal doesn't discontinue it, it will very much remain as my go to concealer for another three years. 

Benefit It's Potent Eye Cream (£25.50) this is a little sample pot I picked up off the internet, because I wanted to see if eye creams were worth the hype. Honestly, no they're not but it makes me feel better about myself knowing that I'm at least one step closer to minimising future wrinkles. 

Benefit Brow Zing (£24.50) a gift from my sister after she swore that this was the best eyebrow product to ever exist on the planet. It's pretty good, doesn't smudge or run and relatively easy to use. Because the brushes are quite small, it's a little fiddly, but nothing you won't get used to after a while. Shades are very limited however, the lightest of the three I find is quite dark for me. 

Rimmel Glam Eyes Liquid Eye Liner (£5.29) I have been using Rimmel's liquid eyeliner since white eyeliner, on the eyelid, coated in brightly coloured eye shadow went out of fashion in the early noughties (if you were born in the late 80s, you will remember this dreadfully embarrassing fashion statement in secondary school). As much as I have tried gel liner, pen liner and pencil, nothing gives that super sleek line like a liquid liner, which is why it is still very much one of my must-have daily makeup products. 

Revlon Colourburst Laquer Balm (£7.99) in my bid to wear more lip products, I purchased this. I suffer horrendously with dry lips in the winter and the Triple Butter Complex has been brilliant at allowing me to wear a lip colour, without drying too much. I would definitely recommend for anyone who wants an easy, daily colour to wear. 

Benefit "That Gal" Brightening Face Primer (£20.25) aside from Porefessional, this is my other favourite primer but instead I apply this to the whole of my face to act as a base. It smells a little like bubblegum, which makes it slightly more fun to wear and really helps makeup stick. 

La Roche-Posay Targeted Breakout Corrector (£9.50/15ml) I blogged about this product back in February in my Best Beauty Products for Blemishes post and raved about how quick-acting this was at diminishing blemishes. This is still a favourite product of mine a year later. 

Max Factor Masterpiece Transform Mascara (£9.99) I have been using this mascara for some time. My favourite part is the brush - it's small which means it coats all of those tiny lashes you usually miss and perfect for bottom lashes too.

Maybelline Line Refine Expression Soft Kohl Liner (discontinued) your pretty standard black, pencil eyeliner which I believe, might have been discontinued. Not a huge wow product - what you see, is what you get. 

Eco Tools Bamboo Domed Bronzer Brush (£9.99) I really like Eco Tools make up brushes mostly because they're quite natural. They're 100% cruelty-free, the handles are made from bamboo and the bristles are extremely plush. They really are a lovely brush to use and don't cost you the earth to purchase!

So there we go, there are a lot of products in my makeup bag at the moment. I'd love to see what you keep in your makeup bag, so please leave links below! 

My New Years resolutions...

So we’re nearly two weeks into January and I’m only just getting around to publishing this post. Not because I haven’t wanted too, but instead it’s given me plenty of time to think. Think, because I’ve never actually given myself a new year’s resolution before…

I’ve always been of the impression that if you want to change or better yourself and your lifestyle then, why wait until the start of a new year to do it? If you really want to change something, then you will, there’s no doubt about that. So instead of throwing myself in at the deep end (and inevitably failing) I wanted to set myself goals – goals that I can aim towards throughout the year and look back on at the end of 2015. Goals that aren’t impossible but still make an impact. So here goes…

To keep on top of my anxiety

During 2014 I was diagnosed with having health-related anxiety. Not something I have had for long time but a mental health issue that I was made aware of the year before when I experienced my first panic attack. 

I’ve always been a bit of a worrier and dwell on things far longer than I should. However, worring about my health and panicking every time I felt an ounce of pain, niggle or notice a change in my body, had never been something that I thought would overcome me. In eight months I went from having the attitude of 'it's nothing, stop worrying' to 'I must be dying' or 'I must have some dreadful disease'. 

I was lucky enough to get help in tackling this head on and after doing a lot of my own research and CBT sessions, I understand my anxiety more than ever but I still have a long way to go. Which is why my goal for 2015 is really push my anxiety to its limits and be completely in control, which leads nice too...

To stress less

It's a well known fact, stress does not do anxiety any favours and throughout 2014 I have felt myself becoming more stressed than ever before and most of the things I stress about are so small. 2015 is all about not allowing things to build up and get to me, rising above life's challenges and seeing how small things are in comparison to real problems other people have in the world.

The best way to deal with stress is to tackle it head on - take a step back, three deep breaths and think about the situation. Be it work, home life or money issues, there's never a reason to worry or stress. 

To incorporate a healthier lifestyle

Now I wouldn't exactly say I'm super unhealthy, but I'm not the healthiest person around. Don't get me wrong, I attend the gym whenever I can, I go walking with the dog at least five times a week, but what really lets me down is what I eat. Fruit and vegetables are few and far between. 

With Andrew working away from home four nights a week, I have used the excuse of it being too difficult to cook super healthy meals for one, for far too long. So 2015 is all about incorporating more vegetables into my evening meals and snacking on healthier snacks like fruit and nuts during the day. Opting for the chocolate snacks was becoming too easy and not doing my waistline any good! Now I don't want to jump right in so I want to start off small, incorporating lentils as a good substitute to meat and adding easy vegetables to dinners. Overtime this will become second nature and snacking will hopefully become a thing of the past!

In order to incorporate a healthier lifestyle, that also means becoming a fitter person, which means training more and not making excuses! This goal is going to be tough but I know I can do it and I'm going to keep reminding myself that!

So there we go, that's my three goals. Easy goals that I can work towards and better myself. And with that, here's to a bloody good 2015! 

2014 Jade-Emma in review

Firstly, Merry Christmas. I hope you all had a fantastic couple of days filled with family, friends, food and very little movement. From the sofa that is. Now that Christmas is over and New Years is just around the corner, I thought I would celebrate by giving you a round up of my five most popular blog posts in 2014.

The best beauty products for blemishes - if you want to know my top picks for tackling pesky spots and blemishes, then this blog post is worth a read. I still use most of the products included, but since February I have discovered a few more. Keep your eyes peeled for an updated blemish post soon. 

John Frieda Sheer Blonde Colour Renew Tone-Correcting Shampoo - back when I had my dip-dye I was struggling to find a shampoo that tackled that horrid yellow, brassiness. You know, that awful colour that comes as a result of having your hair bleached. This product was fantastic and in fact still my go-to shampoo that I use once a week. 

Tigi The S Factor "Serious" Conditioner - turns out haircare reviews are pretty popular on Jade-Emma and there was no surprise with this one. The likes of Zoella rave about this deep conditioning treatment and I couldn't agree more. 

The Mascara Monologues: Benefit They're Real Mascara - the hype behind this product at the beginning of 2014 was crazy after receiving as a gift last Christmas, I couldn't wait to share with you guys my personal opinion. And trust me, it's an honest one...

The Mascara Monologues: Maybelline Big Eyes Mascara - probably one of the better products I have received in a Glossybox, but despite loving the idea, I was left a little disappointed. Find out why...

I love looking back at blog posts from the year, it fills me with a sense of accomplishment and a feeling of I still can't quite believe people want to read my blog. So here's to writing more blog posts and a happy, prosperous 2015. 

Homemade Christmas gifts

I've always loved the idea of making little homemade Christmas gifts. Not only are they super cute but they add a little personal touch too. This year I decided to make these cute little hot chocolate pots for two of my closest friends. 

To make this cute little gift, you will need:

One small Kilner jar (or similar)

Good quality hot chocolate

Marshmallows

Chocolate drops

Cute Christmas ribbon to decorate

Firstly, make sure you give your jar a good clean (If you're struggling to find a good jar, I purchased mine from TK Maxx - they have a good selection at a good range of prices) and let it dry. 

Pour in enough hot chocolate to fill half way and then add a layer of chocolate drops (flavour - your choice - however, I went for milk). 

Next add a layer of marshmallows. They can be any marshmallows you wish. I went for slightly larger marshmallows as they're more fun and it means you can allow for a few extra for eating on their own! 

To really give this hot chocolate a kick, I've included a little mini Bailey's Irish Cream bottle. These are super easy to buy, in fact I ordered mine from www.justminatures.co.uk but you must be 18 and over to purchase. 

Lastly, decorate your jar with some cute Christmas ribbon. I ordered mine from eBay, where you can find a huge selection of different colours, patterns and styles.

This mini jar is super cute for Christmas and you don't just have to limit yourself to hot chocolate. Why not make your own gingerbread body scrub or a Christmas cookie mix?

I would love to see your homemade Christmas gifts that you are giving this year. Leave your links below!

15 things I've learnt...

Image credit: weheartit  

So, last weekend I turned 27. A relatively good age in my opinion. The wrong side of 25 some others might say. Needless to say that in twenty seven years I have learnt a lot...

 

1 Giving is so much better than receiving: it's totally okay to be more excited about Christmas shopping than the day itself. Likewise for birthdays, Mother's Day, weddings...the list goes on.

 

2 You will still make fashion disasters: Cheryl Fernandez-Versini style combat trousers didn't work for her and they didn't work for me either.

3 You will become more emotional: One Born Every Minute, Don't Tell the Bride and even Hollyoaks, shedding a tear to my much loved television programs has become more frequent than Dodger taking his top off.

4 Wine and chocolate will be best friend (sometimes): the reason being? See above.

5 Make time for those who matter: my father once told me that when I become an actual grown up, counting my best friends on one hand would be normal and right he was. But this isn't a bad thing by any means.

6 You meet some rather amazing people: as I've aged, I've developed more friendships than I ever did as an adolescent, all of which I know are lifelong.

7 Staying in is the new going out: there's no denying it, enjoying a glass of wine with the TV definitely trumps a sweaty nightclub.

8 Grown up drinks become more grown up: wine is enjoyed with dinner and not in the bottle with a straw!

9 Its okay, not to be okay.

10 You won't take BS from anyone: with age comes the ability to stand up for yourselves, be it in the workplace, out and about or sadly, over social media.

11 ...But you'll always be polite: temper tantrums and awkward arguments are a no-no.

12 It's normal to have more than three weddings in a summer: all of which will be special, exciting and magical in their own way.

13 Grown up talk turns to bills and babies: no more boys and bad nights out!

14 But you become less scared to say what you think: honesty is always the best policy.

15 It's okay to ask for help: growing up means standing on our own two feet, but sometimes we all need a helping hand and it's okay to admit it.

What about you? I'd love to hear yours?

Autumn nails

Autumn is definitely one of my favourite seasons. The night’s drawing in, fashion gets warmer and autumn nails really pop.
 

This autumn, nail trends couldn't be more, well, autumn. From fancy fuscias to dark greens – there’s a nail colour to suit every single style. Here’s a selection of a few of my favourites.

Going nude

The great thing about nude polishes is that there is a shade to suit every skin tone – from super subtle transparent hues to dark, opaque tones – there are hundreds to choose from.

This autumn I will be sticking to a slightly lighter shade with a pink hint. I find that lighter toned nudes really flatter pale skin, like my own. My favourite at the moment is Charlotte Street from Nails inc (£12)

Make like a tree...

It goes without saying that the autumn months bring out the most beautiful, natural colours so why not reflect these on your nails. Dark blues and mossy greens are right on trend this autumn and were seen on the catwalks of Julian McDonald and Burberry. 

I love British Racing Green by Butter London (£12) and Max Factor’s Prusian Blue (£3.99).

A different shade of red

Red – a classic shade that can really pop. This season, the deeper and more orange, the better! 

To really add a hint of autumn go for a slight shimmering shade like Butter London’s Sun Baker (£12) and Models Own Tropical Sun (£4.99) from the Beetlejuice collection.

Heavy metal

Need a nail colour for those dark, autumn evenings? Metal based polishes are always hit at party season and can add instant wow to a simple party outfit. This season I love Chanel in Black Pearl (£18).

For those of you who prefer simple, classic outfits, adding a metallic nail can really finish it off. Something like Essie Shifting Power (£7.99) or if you want to try something a little different, nail wraps are perfect. Rebel Nails offer a huge range of nail wraps from Bright Mirror Nail Wraps (£7.99) to 22 Carat Gold Stunning Swirl (£14.95).

 

So with plenty of choice, I know I’m definitely going to have fun with my nails this autumn.

I would love to see your autumn nails – leave links to your blogs below! 

The best of: Summer 2014

Can you believe that we're almost half way through September already? No, neither can I! But with the nights drawing in I think it's fair to say that summer is officially over.

There's only one word to describe my summer and that was BUSY! Nearly every weekend has been filled with socialising, weddings, hen parties and holidays. But as much as I have enjoyed the summer of 2014, I am definitely looking forward to sitting back and spending a few cosy nights indoors during autumn. So to celebrate this summer, here's just a few of my favourite summer snaps this year...

The start of summer was definitely one of the busiest I think we've ever had. Firstly, we saw two of our best friends tie the knot and then three days later jumped on a plane to Thailand, landing in Bangkok before heading over to Koh Samui. We created so many memories - from holding baby monkeys and riding elephants to enjoying the nightlife of Khoa San Road and eating the most delicious food we have ever had!

This summer has also been spent creating memories at Eminem's Wembley Stadium concert, seeing an old university friend marry her prince charming and spending the weekend at The Mere Resort Golf & Spa in Cheshire for relaxing pre-wedding celebrations!

I think it's fair to say, this summer has been one of the best and I can't wait to see what autumn and winter have to offer.

I'd love to see your blog posts like this one. If you have any, please leave your links below!

Dear eighteen-year-old me

So, A Level results haven’t long been announced which led me to think about what might have been going through my mind at the tender age of eighteen (most probably boys, fashion and partying – oh what a hard life I lived) and after reading Lauren Conrad’s letter, it spurred me on to write my own…

Never have any fear

There’s no doubt about it that being a teenager is tough but always try and remember to never have any fear, especially when it comes to starting university. University is a daunting process – you will leave family and friends behind – but cherish the time, the memories and the friendships that you make – these will last a lifetime. Make time to travel too as the world has so much to offer and there is so much to see outside of that small town you live in. But one of the biggest things of all – never worry about what people think of you. Those who matter don’t mind and those who mind don’t matter.

Parents know best

Despite thinking that dad knows nothing, trust me when I tell you that he knows everything and more. A problem shared is a problem halved and dad is pretty darn good at halving them. But don’t listen to him when he tells you that your hand will fall off if you wear a hair bobble around your wrist. Eight years later and both hands are still intact!

Always remove your make up before bedtime

Rolling in at 4am should never be an excuse not to remove your make up, despite how drunk or tired you are. Do it religiously now and you will reap the rewards later on. Stick with cleansing, toning and moisturising just like you did at sixteen – but don’t forget to exfoliate too. The same goes for SPF. As much as you think that using a low factor sun cream will give you a glowing tan, it won’t protect your fair English skin. Take time to look after it, you only get one chance.

So there goes, what advice would you give to your eighteen-year-old self if you had the opportunity? Leave your links below!

The Christmas tag!

Courtesy of weheartit

So I thought, what with it being nearly Christmas it was time for the famous Christmas tag! I saw this one over on Kirstie's blog - A Yellow Brick Blog - so here goes... 

1. What's is your favourite Christmas song?

Oh wow, now that's a toughie to start with. I can't possibly pick one, but certainly a good contender has to be Mariah Carey's - All I Want for Christmas. It is a complete classic and reminds me of some of my best times at university. Every Christmas, my housemates and I would put this song on full blast and dance and sing around our flat until we lost our voices. My second favourite is by all means The Pogues - Fairytale of New York. The perfect song to have a drunken singalong down the pub.

2. Which is your favourite drink? 

Without a doubt, mulled wine. I'm really not a red wine drinker, so it's quite surprising how much I love mulled wine. 

3. Do you have a favourite Christmas film? 

I think there's one film everyone loves at Christmas and that's Elf. Close second is Home Alone.

4. What is at the top of your Christmas wish-list this year? 

This is one question I'm constantly asked and I honestly don't know. I would love a new camera and a set of hair rollers. To be honest, I'm more about the giving than the receiving.

5. What is your favourite festive makeup or nail art look?

Glitter nail polish is a must for perfecting a festive look. I'm currently loving Nails Inc. Sloane Gardens, a navy glitter polish that comes out perfectly opaque after two coats. I also have a bronze glitter too from Accessorize. As for my party makeup, I like to keep my eyes dark with smokey shades. I've always loved the red lips look, but I'm convinced red lips don't suit me. So 2014 is all about experimenting with more lip shades and finding the perfect one to suit my pale complexion.

6. What is your favourite outfit at Christmas time? (LBD? Christmas jumper? Pjs?)

My favourite Christmas outfit has to be an oversized cosy jumper with my Ugg boots. There's nothing more than that. Every girl loves a sparkly party number, but there's nothing I feel more comfortable in that a cosy outfit.

7. Would you rather play out in the snow or enjoy it from inside with the fire and a cuppa? 

There's no doubt about it, definitely out in the snow! I'm a keen skier and don't get to go as often as I'd like, so any opportunity to snap it up and I would.

8. Wrapping presents - love or loathe? 

I love wrapping presents, it's all part of Christmas!

9. What is your favourite Christmassy food? 

Pigs in blankets. I could eat those until I popped! 

10. What is your favourite thing about Christmas?

I love the smell of Christmas. That may sound odd, but there's nothing better than waking up in the morning and smelling a real Christmas tree. I also love the cosyness of it all, sitting in the warmth and the pretty lights. Finally, I love how it brings people closer together - I haven't met a person yet, who doesn't love Christmas! 

If any of you do this tag, please comment below with a link to yours. I'd love to read them. 

Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred - Level One

So, at the weekend my boyfriend and I booked an 11 night trip to Tunisia with the aim of relaxing, spending some much needed time together and enjoying a cocktail or two. But there’s one thing that makes me anxious about stepping onto the beach in a bikini - the dreaded winter wobble.

Throughout winter, baggy jumpers and wholesome food get the better of me. I gouge on yummy food and my fitness regime turns to a mere thought in the back of my mind – why work out, when I can eat cake. But when summer time hits, so does my winter wobble and it’s out there for everyone to see. Now, considering I don’t have much time until I jet off abroad (6 weeks to be exact) I need a get fit, fast remedy and seeing so many fantastic reviews about Jillian Michaels’ workouts, I thought why not give it a try.

Now before I start I will be honest and say I’m a healthy weight, an average size with a boyish frame. I by no means need to shed the pounds, but be more toned, especially in the tummy area, which is why I thought this DVD was perfect for me. I have always enjoyed circuit training type exercises and Jillian’s 30 Day Shred works in a similar way. It combines strength, cardio and abs in a 3, 2, 1 workout. That’s 3 minutes of strength, 2 minutes of cardio and 1 minute of abs, repeated three times. Each circuit uses a different exercise and works on strengthening different areas of the body. Plus the DVD is split into three levels, level one, two and three all of which you do for 10 days at a time.

After measuring my key areas and taking a before photograph (for my eyes only) I was ready to start level one.

I’m not going to lie but level one wasn’t the hardest workout I’ve ever done. The cardio is great for getting your heart pumping, but not enough to completely wipe you out but the strength and ab exercises are tough.

After a week or so, I definitely saw a change in my fitness. After day 5, the cardio became much easier and I became a lot stronger – instead of stopping for a 5 second rest during the push up exercise, I could carry on right through and the same with the bicycle crunches.

However, slight mishap on my part. When I started doing this workout I didn’t have any hand weights, so I used tinned tomatoes instead – not the heaviest of items! On day 8, I started using 2kg weights and really struggled with some of the exercises, which made it even harder when I started level 2 because my body wasn’t used to the strength.

Jillian Michaels on the whole does get a little irritating. Her Americanisms grind on you, especially when you’re caught in the middle of a bicycle crunch. But after a while you learn to ignore and concentrate on gaining a body like Natalie’s.

Day 1, Level 1 starting body measurements:

Arms 27cm

Thighs 54cm

Upper waist 76cm

Lower waist 81cm

Hips 92cm

Lets see how I cope with level two...! 

What's in my bag 2012

Apart from beauty reviews, my second favourite blog post to read are nosy blog posts around people's  make-up storage, interior decoration and make-up bags, which is why I have decided to share with you again, what's in my handbag and here it is...

My handbag was a treat from myself, to myself, and bought from Accessorize. I have no idea how much, but I'm guessing it was around the £35 mark.

My purse is Fiorelli and was a birthday gift from my best friend. It's the perfect size and fits all of my rubbish inside.

You might notice a few items of clothing on the left. After visiting my sister the other day, I realised there were a few items of clothing - a pink cardigan and leather skirt - she has 'borrowed' from me. So I quickly snuck them back. At the time I decided to write this blog post, I had forgotten that these were in my bag.

I don't tend to keep anything interesting in my handbag, but I always carry around with me my notebook, diary, pens and my glasses. Four of the most essential things in my life. Believe it or not, I don't actually carry around much make-up, just the odd lip product for when I might need it. The only reason for this is I don't have time to reapply my make-up. As crazy as that sounds. My week day is pretty hectic, so the last thing I ever find myself doing is rushing off to the loos to apply another coat of mascara.

Please link in the comment box your blog posts of the same nature. I'm always interested to read them!

What's in my make-up bag 2012

Back in 2011, my make-up bag looked like this. Considering we're three months away from 2013, I thought I was due another one and to see how much my make-up routine has changed - apparently not so much. I guess I'm a creature of habit.

First of all my make-up bag is Cath Kidston and was bought as a Christmas gift from my beautiful Sister. It's a lot smaller than the last one I had, so I've had to cut down on a few products, leaving room for just the essentials.

L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Cream (Light Skin Tone) - My current make-up essential, you won't see me go a day without this product. To read my full review of this product, click here.

L'Oreal True Match Touché Magique Concealer - I have never, ever found an under eye concealer that works so well with my skin tone and hides those pesky dark circles as good as this one. It's a fantastic product and almost a cheaper version of the Yves Saint Laurent's Touché Éclat. Price, £7.19 from Boots.

Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector Daily All-in-One BB Cream (Light) - I bought this quite a while back, back when I wanted to try a BB cream that wasn't going to cost me the earth. I loved this as a starter product, but wanted a BB cream that did a little bit more. I still keep this one in my make-up bag for days when I don't feel like wearing too much make-up. Available from Boots at £7.49.

Powder FX (E40) - I was given this at a press show around about a year ago and unfortunately I haven't kept any details on the brand. For the last year I have sworn by bareMinerals, but after running out and realising I had no other foundation, I fell towards this. The lovely gentleman who I spoke to at the time, matched my skin perfectly, which I guess is why I haven't stopped using it. The only problem is it doesn't last that long and by midday, it's worn off. But the consistency is lovely and feels ever so light on the skin.

Benefit 'that gal' Brightening Face Primer - I received this as a sample from a magazine. It smells amazing and feels really light and as a primer itself, I think it's okay. I haven't really used it enough to get a full grasp on it yet. Full sized product cost £21.50.

bareMinerals Prime Time Brightening Pearl Eyelid Primer - I haven't yet used an eyelid primer that trumps this one, but if you have any to rival, let me know. It helps make your eyeshadow pop and won't budge at all. To read my full review, click here. Price, £16 for 3ml.

Rimmel Glam Eyes Liquid Eyeliner (black) - I believe that every woman should own a liquid eyeliner. It's an essential product for creating a completely different look in one sweep. The great thing about this eyeliner is the size of the wand - it's quite long, as is the brush, which makes application really easy and seamless. A must have product of mine that I have been buying for years. Price £5.29.

Bourjois Eyeliner Pencil (black) - I think this product has been discontinued because I can't seem to find it anywhere. But needless to say, it's pretty much a standard eyeliner pencil. Stays put for most of the day, but tends to bleed under your eyes. Price is unknown.

L'Oreal Volume Million Mascara - I don't often buy a mascara more than once, but this one has been an exception to the rule. In fact, I think I have bought this twice over. What I love about this mascara is the wand and how well it coats all of your lashes.

Barry M Nail Polish (shade NP318) - One of my favourite Barry M nail polish shades, slightly too bright and summery for the Autumn months, so I will be swapping this with a darker navy or deep red shade instead. Price, £2.99 from Boots.

Clinique Instant Life for Brows (soft brown) - Quite possibly one of the best eyebrow crayons I have used, it's really subtle and easy to apply. The highlighter on the other end of the crayon gives a great lift to the brow bone too. Available in three colours, soft blonde, soft brown and deep brown, and available from Clinique for £15.

Benefit Posy Tint - This was a mini sample from a magazine, that I'm still trying to scrape the remnants from. It's a great little product and add a slight pink tone to your cheeks. This is a lip tint too. Price for the original size is £24.50.

Tools

(Unknown brand) eyelash curlers - A must-have for any girls make-up bag. I don't go a day without using these!

Vie at Home Double-Ended Eyeshadow Brush - Unsure of price

bareMinerals Wet/Dry Shadow Brush - £13 from bareMinerals

bareMinerals Flawless Application Face Brush - £19 from bareMinerals

Please link me to your make-up bag posts - I love having a good nosey!

Liebster Blog Award

When looking at my emails this morning I was greeted with a lovely comment from Eve telling me that she had nominated me for the Liebster Blog Award - a fab little award given to bloggers, from other bloggers whose blog has 200 followers or less. In order to accept the award, there are some rules, so here goes...

1) Each winner must post 11 facts about themselves
2) The winner must also answer 11 questions the tagger has set for them
3) The winner must then create 11 more questions to ask bloggers they decide to tag
4) They must then choose 11 bloggers to tag with less than 200 followers
5) And lastly, these lucky bloggers nominated, must then be told

So first of all here's 11 facts about myself ...

• I am completely, 100% scared of anything with wings. Be it moths, butterfly's, birds, daddy-long-legs. As soon as one flies into the room, I'm outta there! 
• I trained as a gymnastic for 7 years, where i competed in competitions and trained at the same gym as Louis Smith
• My Dad is my hero
• When I was born I was named Sydney for a week
• I am too honest for my own good, in fact it gets me in trouble more often than not
• I have had the pleasure of spending a morning, discussing beauty with Lulu 
• I won Johnson & Johnson's New Beauty Journalist award in 2011
• I'd rather watch a good action film over a chick-flick anyday
• I love to cook
• I couldn't live without my mascara
• I have never watched Dirty Dancing or Footlose

Now for the questions that I have been asked to answer...

What is your most embarrassing moment?
My most embarrassing moment has to be when I was 16 years old, working as a waitress in my local pub. It was New Years Eve and very busy. After clearing up dirty plates from a table, I carried them back to the kitchen, only to slip over in front of the whole bar, while a group of sixth form students from school laughed at me.

What is the best film you have seen this year?
This is a really hard question, but I think it has got to be The Help - inspirational, beautiful and funny.

What is your best buy?
This is quite a vague question, but if it was beauty related I would definitely say mascara. I don't have a favourite brand as I like to try different ones as often as I can.

What's the first item on your wish list?
It has got to be a Michael Kors rose gold watch. I'm absolutely obsessed with rose gold at the moment.

Have you got a favourite childhood toy?
My favourite toy growing up was definitely my Barbie dolls.

What is your favourite nail varnish?
My favourite nail varnish brand is Maybelline Forever Strong Pro, but they're really limited on colours. But if I was to go for favourite nail varnish overall, it would be Nails Inc in Haymarket.

Coke or Pepsi?
Coke

What's your most recent purchase?
Was a faux leather skirt and pug patterned top both from River Island.

What's the most expensive item in your wardrobe?
The most expensive item(s) in my wardrobe are both my pairs of Ugg boots - one in chestnut and the other in chocolate - everyone needs a bit of variation!

Is there a TV program you can't miss?
Keeping Up with the Kardashians is a definite and Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model.

Comfort or style?
Style

I have sent my questions to the blogs I've tagged myself in, instead of placing them on my blog. Thank you to Eve again for nominating me.

Apologies...

...for my lack of blogging recently. We've recently gained a new member to our family and shes been keeping me very busy.

Meet Bailey, our beautiful Chocolate Labrador.

She's incredibly cute, very cheeky, full of beans and most definitely going to keep me on my toes.

Check back soon for more beauty blogging. I haven't forgotten about you all, honest!

My favourite products of 2011

I can't believe how quick 2011 went. At the beginning of the year I was praying I was still going to have a job by the end of it, let alone buy a beautiful starter home with my boyfriend. As 2012 approaches we're still decorating and finding endless bits and bobs to furnish it with. Slowly, it's starting to look not just like our house, but our home.

Aside from this, I still managed to blog about plenty of products and here's a quick round up of my favourites from 2011:

Skincare

I was given a sample of the Dermalogica Dermal Clay Cleanser (not shown) earlier on in the year and instantly fell in love. Teamed with a few other Dermalogica products, it gives skin a deep cleanse, leaving it refreshed and squeaky clean.
Full review click here

I've been using the bareMinerals Deep Cleansing Foam ever since I was introduced to it in October and I love it. I haven't used another cleanser since.
Full review click here

The Palmers Cocoa Butter Body Scrub smells divine and is the perfect consistency for a body scrub. Some body scrubs can be too soft, which doesn't really do much for the skin. But Palmers have got the consistency right, as well as keeping that good-enough-to-eat cocoa smell.
Full review click here

Clinique SPF 35 Targeted Protection Stick practically saved my skin on holiday this year. I'm fair-skinned so I'm prone to burning, especially on areas like my nose and ears. The protection stick was my ultimate savour.
Full review click here

For me, the Nivea moisturiser was my favourite of 2011. It can be used on any part of your body, from face to hands and body. I currently keep it on my desk at work for whenever my hands get dry.
Full review click here

Cosmetic 

The Revlon PhotoReady Foundation and bareMinerals Mineral Foundation stood out the most in 2011. Although bareMinerals wasn't a new product, 2011 was the year I discovered it. Unfortunately a hotel cleaner smashed my PhotoReady Foundation and I never got round to buying another, but it had a huge thumbs up from me. Both give great coverage - Revlon adds a subtle shimmer with light reflecting particles, while bareMinerals gives a complete matte finish.
Full Revlon PhotoReady Foundation review click here

My favourite nail polish of 2011 was definitely the Maybelline Forever Strong Nudes collection. They may be nude colours, but they stand out and look beautiful on any hand. Plus, the formula lasts longer and doesn't chip, more than any other I have used.
Full review click here

What are your favourite products of 2011?

EADV Conference

Some of you may have heard of the Johnson & Johnson Beauty Care Journalism Awards. For those of you who haven't, it's one of the most highly regarded award cermonies in the beauty journalism industry, with editors, writers and more recently bloggers, attending in hope of winning one of the prestigous awards.

Last year I was working as a beauty journalist on a national women's magazine and entered the competition on a whim. I was completely shocked when on the night, I'd discovered I'd won New Beauty Journalist of the Year 2011. I was handed a beautiful award, £500 and a trip to Lisbon to visit the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV).

So last weekend I departed to Lisbon for three days, where I attended dermatology talks, browsed brand stands and ate lots of yummy food all courtesy of Johnson & Johnson and Red Consultancy.

While I was there I picked up lots of information from the brand stands such as Aveeno, Neutrogena, P&G, Clinique, RoC and Eucerin, plus tons more. So I have a lot of bedtime reading to do - learning about new skincare innovations, technology and products.

I had such a fantastic time and discovered how beautiful Lisbon really is. Thanks to Emily at Red who attended the conference with me and made the trip even more enjoyable. And to Anna who organised the whole thing. Not forgetting all the lovely people from Johnson & Johnson who I met while I was out there.

While I was there, I managed to pick up a few beauty products, but I'm going to share these in a different post. In the mean time, here's just a few photos from my trip...

The hotel Pestana Palace

Gorgeous hotel room

25 de Abril Bridge

Discoveries Monument

Tagus River

What's in my bag?

I've seen a lot of blog posts like this, in particular Daisy's and thought it was a fab idea to show you guys what is in mine. I haven't sorted out my bag prior to this, so I apologise for any awful rubbish that may appear.

ASOS bag, cost around £30

The entire contents of my bag

You're probably thinking my bag must be rather huge to fit all of this in, but infact it's not. It is heavy mind you...

I always carry around with me a notebook, pen and my diary - three things I'd be completely lost without. Also two pairs of sunglasses are important too. My purse was a gift from my best friend, the For You card is a leaving present from my last job. Also I always carry with me cuticle oil (The Body Shop), lipgloss (e.l.f) and lip balm (Blistex and Carmex).

Don't ask about the tea bag, I guess you never know when you might need one.

I'd love to see what you guys keep in your bags...