In Flight Essentials

I'm back from holiday now and I was unable to post anything, so I am now trying to get all of my posts out now starting with this one.

So I don't really allow carry on restrictions hold me back when flying I just make sure that I am armed with a lot of clear sandwich bags. Most of my carry on bag consists of beauty products and then random bits. I will start with beauty products, more specifically skin care.

It was only recently I realised why flying always left me with dull, unhealthy looking skin. The air in the cabin dehydrates you so much so it is essential to moisturise to combat this effect. The morning of my flight I cleansed, toned and moisturised as usual, I opted not to wear any makeup to the airport as I would have only taken it off on board. Once we had taken off, I quickly scrabbled into action and firstly started by using an antibacterial hand gel, Carex aloe vera hand gel, then gave my face a quick wipe with Nivea gentle facial cleansing wipes for dry & sensitive skin. I don't usually use face wipes as I know they aren't great for your skin but this is a one off. I dabbed some of the Origins super spot remover gel on any pesky spots. I then slapped on my face mask of choice, the Origins drink up overnight intensive mask which I could just leave on my skin and reapply as often as I want. I decided to layer this up with the Body Shop vitamin e face mist, which is great for when I'm feeling a bit panicky mid-flight as well. I popped on a bit of hand cream because I find my hands always get quite dry, I have been using the Crabtree & Evelyn summer set meadow ultra-moisturising hand therapy which is just so lovely! And finally I packed a perfume sample that I had and that was the Givenchy dahlia noir.

lots and lots of moisture boosting products.

For makeup bits I basically grabbed my small benefit makeup bag and selected a face of the day which I will be applying about 40 mins before the end of the flight to reduce the drying of my skin. The products I've chosen today; bareMinerals Prime Time, Bourjois healthy mix foundation in 51, Rimmel wake me up concealer in ivory, Sleek contour kit in light, NARS blush in deep throat, Rimmel stay matte powder in translucent, HD brow kit in vamp, 17 clear definition mascara (used to set eyebrows), Rimmel scandaleyes eyeshadow stick in bullet proof beige and bad girl bronze, Rimmel lash accelerator endless mascara in black, Revlon lip butter in juicy papaya and Carmex moisturising lip balm.

this mirror was so handy I was so sad when it broke.

Random bits I brought with me were; a fluffy pair of bed socks to keep my toes warm, I always freeze on planes. Big hair clip to pin my fringe back and a few hair bobbles and clips. A travel fold away mirror. A book, 'the time of my life' by Cecelia Ahern, I love her! My tangleteezer. My iPad, phone and earphones.

bit of a random photo to finish: selection of bracelets for holiday, bed socks on the plane, carry on tag, view from the window and rough looking selfie after 4 and a half hours on the plane.

July Favourites

Yes I am aware that I skipped my June favourites but I am back and it is now time for my July favourites. I have been on a bit of a tight budget this month (missing my student loan) so I haven't been able to try many new things so this should be short and sweet...maybe. 

Makeup first and I have been loving the MUA eyeshadow palette in Heaven and Earth. I think that this is a great staple palette to have, all the shades are shimmers or metallic which isn't to everybody's taste but I like it! The pigmentation is disputable but overall I think it is lovely and provides some great colours for a great price!

from L-R on my arm the colours are swatched from the top left shadow going clockwise. I particularly love the top left shadow for a brow bone or inner corner highlight. MUA eyeshadow palette Heaven and Earth-£4

So not that long ago I mentioned that I splashed out on my first ever MAC foundation, MAC Studio Sculpt SPF 15 Foundation, and since then I have been trying to love it, really really trying. But I just wasn't the results from it that I was expecting and was left disappointed with a patchy bizarre looking complexion. I know this doesn't sound much like a favourite, and it wasn't until I applied it with a different brush. Previously, I was using the Real Techniques blending brush or expert face brush. One day when I was attempting a Kim K makeup look, inspired by this Tanya Burr video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shWi2zmx8uc, I pulled out my MAC studio sculpt foundation and the Real Techniques Stippling Brush. This brush applied the foundation so perfectly and I fell in love with the foundation finally! So this is a combined favourite of the foundation with brush, and a lesson to try different applications of foundations that didn't wow you first time, before you make up your mind and chuck it.

MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation NC15- £25
Real Techniques Stippling Brush- £11.99

I don't know whether its the warm weather or whether I am overly hormonal this month but I have had several recurring breakouts. The best thing to tackle breakouts I have recently found is this little miracle bottle, Origins Super Spot Remover. I think this really helps reduce the redness and size of the spot almost immediately and the little bugger is pretty much gone in 2-3 days, yay! It is also fine to apply makeup on top of this stuff...genius stuff.

I have had this for months and only the smallest amount has been used!
Origins Super Spot Remover 10ml- £14

A few random favourites now; firstly, to all the UK residents I will not be alone in saying that I have been loving the sun. I am a naturally cold person and the winter makes me really miserable so I am basking and absorbing as much heat as possible now! Please don't go sun! 

I have again been sucked into the world of King's College London A&E department, because of my all time favourite tv program 24 Hours in A&E. I think this is the best hospital based program as 1) its real and 2) you get to see how a hospital works and deals with patients. The series shines such a positive light on the NHS after all of the negativity it has been receiving lately. My favourite person is definitely Jen the Senior Sister, she is such an amazing nurse!  

I hope you all have had a great July too, I can't believe this year is going soo fast!

Holy Grail Alert- Hairspray

Just thought I would let you know that I have found myself a holy grail hair product. 

I had a bit of a hair makeover about a month ago and I am a bit late getting around to sharing this, but I highly recommend Too Funky Hair in Manchester and especially Sarah who is an amaaaaazing hairdresser. 

Even though I loved my new hair I was worrying how I was going to keep this extremely heavy side fringe out of my eyes, so I purchased the 'Big Sexy Hair Spray&Stay' hairspray from the hairdressers.

If you are like me and your usual hairspray experience is soaking you hair in hairspray until you achieve the look/volume you desire, then, five minutes later your hair is flat to your head or the style has dropped then look no further!

A quick spray from this bad boy and my fringe is held in place I could wobble and jiggle my head as much as I want it stays put, which means I don't have to walk with my head tilted to the side, surely I'm not the only one! It also withstood the battering from the northern wind! 

The only drawback is that it does make your hair rock solid, it doesn't make it clump into strands which is good but if you are going for a more natural look I would not advise this hairspray.

At £14 it was way more than what I normally pay for hairspray, but I had to get it, and from the hairdressers I got student discount which is always nice.

This is definitely going to be my hairspray of choice when I am going out all day or night and I want my hairstyle to stay put.