Beauty Bag Essentials
The multi-billion dollar trade that is the beauty industry is not short of products. Every week there is a new mascara, foundation or moisturiser that is ‘better than ever before’ which makes it hard for us girls to restrain our temptation for some fabulous new packaging or cute name for a nail varnish or those devilish 3 for 2 Boots offers which somehow let you convince yourself you are saving yourself money but spending more than you planned to in the first place. Have you ever fallen for it? Yup, me too.
However, despite all of this it’s important for us all to have a few staple beauty bag essentials and here are some I recommend:
1. Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer
Coming in at the bargain price of around £4, this concealer is an absolute must have for the make-up bag. The clue in the name; it lasts for hours and perfect, flawless finish to your skin. Say goodbye to blemishes and pores with this high-coverage concealing dream (also works a treat on under eye circles after a heavy night of studying or partying!).
2. Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder (Medium/Dark)
This is another drugstore product that is a firm favourite in my make-up bag. First off, it looks like a bar of chocolate, how could you resist!? Secondly, it smells divine and thirdly it is a really cheap (£6.99) and, most importantly, is a brilliant bronzer. This bronzer gives a natural sun kissed glow and can be applied with a big fluffy brush all over the face to give that ‘I’m just back from the Med’ look when you’ve actually woken up in the grey city of Aberdeen! Or alternatively grab a contouring brush and use in the hollows of your cheeks to give the illusion of celebrity/supermodel cheekbones.
3. Batiste Dry Shampoo
Another essential, this time for your luscious locks is dry shampoo. Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past however many years this stuff is a lifesaver, honestly, it should get an award! As students as much as we’d like to pretend we haven’t we’ve all rocked that second, or maybe third day hair look… hey, deadline weeks are stressful times! For this reason I always carry a handbag sized bottle of dry shampoo (£2.99) with me, with a quick spritz it banishes oil and gives volume which leaves you feeling fresh when time is isn’t of the essence. There is also a variety of fragrances from cherry to tropical!
4. Lancôme Hypnose Star Mascara
Every girl needs good mascara and this is a favourite of mine. It creates amazing volume, length and holds a curl without giving a clumpy look. If you’re looking to create a dramatic smoky eye look this is the mascara for you as it also flake free and doesn’t budge. One downfall is that it is quite pricey at around £22.50 but it is worth the splurge in my beauty bag essentials!
5. MAC Russian Red Lipstick
In the make-up world red lipstick screams girl power and Russian Red is, in my humble opinion, the best out there. A true red and wonderfully matte this lipstick will make you feel a million dollars, a simple sweep across the lips with also help transition an outfit from day to night! This £15 product is even a celebrity favourite Angelina Jolie, Christina Aguilera and Anne Hathaway have all been spotted wearing this highly pigmented and long lasting lipstick.
6. Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water
As important as it is to use good make up and tools to apply it, it’s even more essential to take off properly before getting your beauty sleep! I am a firm believer that make up remover wipes do not sufficiently do this, studies highlight they often leave a residue on your skin after use and strip the skin of its natural oils (yikes!). My discovery of the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water as only strengthened this belief. For the past few years micellar water has become big on the beauty radar as models and make up artists swear by the make up removal and cleansing powers of the stuff. French brands such as La Roche-Posay, Avene and the holy grail, celebrity favourite Bioderma have dominated the market with their pioneering micellar waters. However, these products are all quite pricey and difficult to get a hold of in the UK so God bless Garnier for bringing out their own version at the ridiculously affordable price of £3.99! It removes even the most stubborn of make up from waterproof mascara to dark lipstick whilst simultaneously cleansing the skin and not leaving it feeling dry or irritated, it feels like you’re simply removing make-up with water, magic! I urge you all to take a trip to Boots now; it would be rude not too!