Makeup Monday: Blogger Makeup Bag

For February's Blogger Makeup Bag, I'm delighted to introduce Laura from the lifestyle blog, Laura's Haven. Featuring beauty with a splattering of movie, theatre and book reviews along with the occasional giveaway and more, Laura's Haven is well worth a look. The blog is written in a friendly and informal style so it feels as though you're catching up with a friend. Visit Laura's Haven here.
Without further ado, I hand you over to Laura...

Today, I'll be talking about the products in my everyday makeup bag. The bag itself isn't too exciting- it actually came with an Elizabeth Arden gift set but it's perfect in that you can squish loads inside if you're jetting off on holiday. However, if you're packing light for a night away, you can fold it away into the bottom of your bag. Win- win! But I'm sure what you really want to see are the products inside that I use on a daily basis.

The only two concealers I own are constants in my makeup bag. Benefit Erase Paste is salmon-toned for covering dark circles but does a pretty great job on blemishes too! If I've had a really sleepless night, I will layer a tiny bit of the YSL Touche Éclat on top for a brightening effect. This can also be used as a highlighter which is really handy if you need to save space in your makeup bag.

I tend to rotate between two bases depending on how my skin is looking. I won't wear primer every day but if I'm in need of long-lasting coverage, I'll go for The PoreFessional by Benefit. The Dr Jart+ Water Fuse BB Cream has been my staple when I'm after a dewy glow. If your skin is a little drier, I'd certainly recommend giving this a go for a light coverage. It comes out looking quite a scary colour but it blends into paler winter skin pretty well. This is also great for summer as it contains SPF25 but this means you can't really wear it on a night out- nobody likes looking ghostly white in photographs! On occasions like this where I'd like a little more coverage, I reach for the Inika Liquid Mineral Foundation. This is still a light coverage foundation but is particularly great for covering redness.

My blusher of choice is the much-loved Nars Deep Throat. The colour is a natural pink flush without too much shimmer for daytime wear. In all honesty, I've not experimented with powders too much as my skin never used to get shiny but if I do need to touch up, I'll reach for this one by Physician's Formula.

Onto the eyebrows and for everyday, I find it easiest to use the Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil. It's the perfect colour for my brows and the handy comb on the lid stops you from going too overboard. While I won't wear eyeshadow during the day, I will slick on some liner. I'm currently using a Ted Baker eyeliner that I got as part of a gift set. It gives a nice soft look but also tends to smudge under the eyes easily. If I'm after something longer lasting or more dramatic, I'll always go for the Maybelline Gel Liner. This has been relatively hyped up on blogs but it's well and truly worth it. Benefit They're Real Mascara is another hyped up product that I truly love. I wasn't expecting to like this for some reason but it lengthens like nothing else I've tried. This sample size has lasted a good two months so far.

All that's left is a slick of lip balm and a nice thick formula for winter is the Dr Lipp Nipple Balm for Lips. With a hint of gloss to it, you'll still look done up without making an effort.

 

What's a makeup bag without a couple of tools?! I use the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush to blend in my base of choice. I've never felt the need to use another brush for foundation after trying this out. The only other brush I tend to use on a daily basis is the Tapered Brush from Crown Brush. It works equally well for blush and powder. Finally, my pair of Eyeko Lash Curlers top off this post. I've only been using this for a short time but haven't been too impressed so far. They work okay but I'm sure there's better out there waiting to be discovered!

Anyway, I hope you've enjoyed getting to peek at my makeup bag and thanks to Astrid for inviting me to post on Skin Deep! Laura. x

For more from Laura, check out www.LaurasHaven.com or follow her on Twitter @LaurasHaven