What's in My Suitcase? - Beauty

Technically speaking this is what is in my hand luggage. But other than my Lush Ultrabland cleanser, Buffy Shower bar and Happy Hippy shower gel there isn't much other than copious amounts of sunscreen in my suitcase.

I've split my beauty products into two categories for the flight, liquid and non-liquid. Just to make it easier for packing and for getting through security.

The non-liquid bag is housing all of my dry makeup. I opted for the classic Urban Decay Naked Palette, you can't really go wrong with this one, it has every shade I will need while I am away. I also packed two of my Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Pencils in Beige Matte and Bad Bronze to use as a base for my shadows. Another Rimmel Scandaleyes pencil made it's way in there in the form of the nude eye liner - I feel this will be used towards the end of the flight so that I don't look quite so tired with my bloodshot eyes!

As for my face, I lifted Laura Geller Balance'n'Brighten (full review here), and the Laura Geller Bronze'n'Brighten, both of these are light on the skin and are perfect for the 'no-makeup' look. I have also packed my new favourite, Lush Emotional Brilliance Powder (Lush post coming soon, don't worry!) and The Body Shop's Shimmer Waves in Blush. I wasn't going to take a highlighter initially, however my obsession for Illamasqua's Cream Highlighter in Gleam   got the better of me and so it made it's way in there too!

I have packed two solid lipsticks, both from Illamasqua in the shades Liable and Flare. Both bright, summery shades and they last brilliantly. How could I refuse? 

This is where I had problems. Those plastic bags are so small and I wanted to take so much. If I'm honest I've managed to squeeze quite a bit in there anyway. Starting with makeup, I've got Lush Jackie Oates Colour Supplement, Liquid Lipstick in Ambition, Liquid Eyeliner in Control and Eyes Right Mascara. I also packed Maybelline Brow Drama Gel to tame my brows while we are away as mine can get quite unruly. Bourjois 1 Seconde Waterproof Mascara as this is a great volume boosting mascara and is a brilliant waterproof formula. Seventeen Tattoo Me Liquid Liner - my absolute favourite liquid liner, ever. It doesn't budge, so it is perfect for hot weather. I'v also packed a new addition to my concealer collection in the form of Laura Geller Real Deal Concealer which you can expect a full review of very soon! I recently tried The Body Shop's Tea Tree Primer and really like it, it feels very refreshing on the skin and I have found it to keep my Balance'n'Brighten in place all day too.

Moving on to the skincare, I have a couple of the Lush Charity Pots to use on my hands while we fly to keep them nice and soft (I have antibacterial hand wipes which are very good but dry your hands out something terrible!). The Body Shop's Elderflower Eye Gel and Vitamin E Eye Cream - the gel is amazing for soothing sore and puffy eyes and the cream is brilliant for helping to banish dark circles. Finally we have the super-amazing Lush Tea Tree Toner which it really refreshing and feels brilliant on the skin, especially when it is followed up with Lush Enzymion moisturiser. Perfect.

The only extra that I seem to have forgotten to photograph was my Lush Full of Grace Serum Bar which is really hydrating and feels really luxurious on the skin and I fully intend to smother my face in it the second I can on the flight!

What are your in-flight beauty essentials?

Skincare Series Part 3 - Treatment

Superdrug Vitamin E Intense Moisture Cream // Superdrug Vitamin E Exfoliating Facial Scrub // e.l.f. Lip Exfoliator // Avon Clearskin Emergency Instant Spot Treatment // Superdrug Skin Rescue 50th Birthday Mask // The Body Shop Vitamin E Sink-In Moisture Mask

Make Sure to Read Parts 1 and 2 of My Skincare Series!

Once a week I try to have a facial treatment night. I like to do this on a night where I am home alone, I'll stick my music on as loud as I like and run a bath and lie with a face mask on. 

I like to use a facial scrub before using a mask. The Superdrug Vitamin E Scrub is a winner with me. As you well know now, I love this range and cannot speak highly enough of the products in the line. This scrub is quite gritty which I love, I like to feel as though the scrub is actually scrubbing - you know what I mean, right? Anyway, this scrub is fab!

I always have a collection of face masks in my stash in case I feel like I need one, both The Body Shop Vitamin E Mask and Superdrug's 50th Birthday Antioxidant Mask are very relaxing and do what they say they will. Although I do also like a chocolate scented face mask from time to time too! 

I have mentioned the Superdrug Vitamin E Intense Moisture Cream here and have already written about it as being one of my S.O.S. Products. This sorts out dry skin in a flash. When your skin really needs a good drink, this is what you need. Honestly, I see results the second I put it on. I love it so much!

When my lips are feeling very rough, dry and just generally feeling the effects of constant lipstick wearing I reach for the e.l.f. Lip Exfoliator. What I love the most about this is that it isn't in a little pot meaning the scrub gets stuck under your finger nails and just makes a big mess, it is in the form of a lipstick which makes using this so easy. It smells great and I need to stop myself from licking it off of my lips when I use it! Aside from this is is a really good lip scrub, it takes away all the dry and dead skin and leaves my lips feeling super soft and ready for more red lipstick!

Finally when I have an unwelcome visitor set up camp on my face I reach for the Avon Clearskin Spot Treatment. This dries spots out and takes away redness which is exactly what I want as it gets them away quickly and if I catch a spot early enough with this treatment it doesn't even fully erupt on my face. Bonus!

I hope that you have enjoyed my skincare series. I know that I have and I hope to do more series posts in the future!

Skincare Series Part 2 - Nighttime

Superdrug Naturally Radiant Brightening Hot Cloth Cleanser // Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water // Garnier Express 2 in 1 Eye Makeup Remover // Superdrug Vitamin E Moisturising Night Cream // Gatineau Aquamemory Moisture Replenish Concentrate // Gatineau Aquamemory Moisture Replenish Eye Roll-on

You Can Read Part 1 of My Skincare Series Here

As much as I love applying my makeup, I think that I enjoy taking it all off again at the end of the day more. I find it oddly relaxing and therapeutic. Tell me I'm not alone here? 

I start my soaking a cotton wool pad in Garnier Express 2 in 1 Eye Makeup Remover. This guy removes everything, even the Tattoo Me Liquid Eyeliner I spoke about here. You don't need to tug and pull at the delicate skin around your eyes to get your makeup off either, just place a cotton wool pad with plenty of product on it and I like to leave it there for maybe about 30 seconds. Doing this loosens the makeup and makes sweeping it away much easier and it acts as a cooling compress on your eyes which I always welcome at the end of the day. 

After this I turn to the Superdrug Naturally Radiant Brightening Hot Cloth Cleanser, I take my time massaging this into my face and neck and then I like to leave it on for a couple of minutes before buffing it off with the muslin face cloth which comes with the cleanser. It takes off all of my remaining makeup and it smells delicious. Once I have finished with this I sweep over a bit of Garnier Micellar Water just incase there is anything left to come off (more often than not there is nothing, but I like to be sure!). 

At night I like to use the Gatineau Aquamemory products that I mentioned in my daytime skincare post yesterday. The Moisture Concentrate works wonders over night for making my skin feel hydrated when I wake up first thing in the morning. I use the Eye Roll-on at the end of the day for the soothing aspect, it is brilliant for sore, tired eyes. 

Now that I am all Aquamemoried up, I turn to my beloved Superdrug Vitamin E range to use the night cream from this family. It is very hydrating and feels (and smells) very comforting at the end of a long day.

After climbing into bed I slather on whichever hand cream is sitting on my bedside table and then that's me set for the night. What are your favourite nighttime products? Make sure to come back tomorrow for the third and final part of my skincare series!

Skincare Series Part 1 - Daytime

Gatineau Aquamemory Moisture Replenish Concentrate // Gatineau Aquamemory Moisture Replenish Eye Roll-on // Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water // Elizabeth Arden Advanced Lip-Fix Cream // Superdrug Vitamin E Radiance Cream // Superdrug Naturally Radiant 2 in 1 Moisturiser and Serum 

Looking flawless starts with good skin, we all know that. Over the next three days I'll share with you my skincare routine and today is my daytime skincare routine. 

I'm lazy in the morning and just use a quick swipe of cotton wool soaked in Garnier Micellar Water over my face. It freshens me up and removes any grime which may have found itself on my face since the night before. I like to take as little time as possible in the mornings and for all a bit of face wash in the shower doesn't take long, I prefer to use this before my serum and moisturiser since it saves about 20 seconds (I did say, I'm lazy first thing in the morning!).  

As far as serums go, depending on my skins needs I'll either use the Superdrug Naturally Radiant 2 in 1 Moisturiser and Serum or the Gatineau Moisture Replenish Concentrate (check out the £3.49 dupe for this here). If my skin is particularly dehydrated I'll opt for Gatineau as it is amazing for re hydrating skin and it feels divine on application, it really leaves your skin feeling so soft and supple. If my skin is looking good in terms of hydration I'll use the Superdrug Naturally Radiant 2 in 1 Moisturiser and Serum which gives my skin a nice boost and does give a bit of radiance. 

Whether I use Gatineau or Superdrug  for my serum I always use the Superdrug Vitamin E Radiance Cream over the top (I've spoken about this before here). It is very light on the skin and is very hydrating, not to mention it has an SPF 15, which for this time of year is fine. I always, always, always go out with some form of SPF on. I don't think it is worth the risk and I'd rather be pale and interesting than burnt to a cinder (which with my skin would happen!). As we come into the summer months I always use an SPF 50 on the top.

I use the Gatineau Aquamemory Eye Roll-on which is very cooling and soothes puffy eyes first thing in the morning. It is good for hydrating the skin around the eye but the main reason I like it is because it tones down the puffiness and is instantly cooling. Lastly I pop on some Elizabeth Arden Advanced Lip-Fix over and around my lips to keep them soft and it also works well to prime the lips before applying lipstick.

After all of that I go about my morning, grabbing something to eat, catching up on the news and whats going on in the world of Facebook and Twitter for 20 minutes to let my concoction sink into my skin and then I go and apply my makeup.

I hope to see you tomorrow for part 2 of the series!
Are there any of your favourites in my daytime routine? If not what are your 'go-to' products?