What's Inside My Make Up Bag? Summer 2014 Edition

I thought I'd share with you what I've been keeping in my summer make up bag this year as I know that I love to see what products people can't live without and I had a big sort through my make up bag as it was overflowing with products that I just kept leaving in and not using so I now present to you my make up bag essentials!

The Base Products

Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturiser RRP £34

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer RRP £4.19

Smashbox Oil Free Photo Finish Primer RRP £25

Loreal Lumi Magique Concealer RRP £8.49

During summer I opt for a tinted moisturiser instead of a foundation as I prefer to keep my base light then use a heavier coverage concealer the Collection one is my favourite and to brighten my under eyes and high points of my face I use the Lumi Magique to illuminate the face. If I'm ever wanting my make up to last all day and through to the night I use a primer to hold my make up look and prevent any excess oil.

Power Brows

Benefit Brow Zings RRP £24.50

Benefit Gimme Brow RRP £17.50

To get my signature strong brows I use my swear-by products by Benefit I only use the wax part and use the sharp angled brush to apply it I've found that the wax works better for my brows than powder and to set them I use the brow mascara although I use it on its own for lazy days.

Eyeshadows

Mac Pro Palette Pans start at £10

Maybelline 24 Hour Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze RRP £4.99

Natural Collection 'Butterscotch' RRP £1.79

I've been constantly reaching for the shadows in my Mac palette this summer especially 'All That Glitters' and 'Nylon' for a pretty natural eye look but the other two shadows I've kept handy are a bronze cream base and soft pink translucent base to neutralise my eyelids.

Liner

Loreal Super Liner Perfect Slim RRP £6.99

Estee Lauder Intense Kajal Eyeliner RRP £16.50

Bobbi Brown Gel Liner RRP £18

I'm a huge fan of a cat eye but I like to have a selection of liners to create different looks for example a liquid liner for fast on the go everyday looks, gel liner if I have a bit longer to apply as this lasts longer and a soft kohl liner for the water line and to smudge.

Mascara

Kate Moss for Rimmel Mascara RRP £7.49

I've not really been enjoying this mascara I need to pick up a new one does anyone have any recommendations for mascaras I like a fibre brush and to achieve a feathered lash effect I was thinking of trying the Lancome Hypnose Mascara.

Powder Finishes

MAC Mineralise Skin Finish Natural RRP £22

Sleek Blush By 3 in 'Pink Lemonade' RRP £9.99

Nars Laguna Bronzer RRP £27

I love the glow finish of the mineralise powder and it photographs really well this also works well to mattify any oily patches, the laguna bronzer from Nars is perfect for adding a golden glow and to contour then I add a pink blush to the cheeks using one of the Sleek blushes.

Highlight

Benefit High Beam RRP £19.50

Benefit Eye Bright RRP £15.50

I've been really enjoying using a cream pink highlighter to add luminosity to my cheekbones, centre nose, cupids bow and chin this is really easy to blend in and adds a beautiful glow to the face I use the pencil to line my lower waterline and inner corners of the eyes.

Lip Care

Maybelline Baby Lips Intense Care RRP £2.99

Rodial Stem Cell Super Food Lip Balm RRP £19

I always have a couple lip balms in my make up bag to keep my lips hydrated and moisturised I use the Baby Lips as a light balm on mornings then the Rodial balm on nights to give a more intense moisture. 

Balms and Butters

Revlon Lip Butter in 'Cotton Candy' RRP £7.99

Revlon Lip Butter in 'Peach Parfait' RRP £7.99

Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayon in 'Peach on the Beach' RRP £7.99

Clinique Chubby Stick in 'Curvy Candy' RRP £17

I've been loving wearing lighter formula's of lip products such as butters and balms that add a sheer buildable colour these are my favourite ones to use and great summer colours to chose from.

Swatched from left to right

Lip Stains

Revlon Colour Stay Moisture Stain in 'London Posh', 'LA Exclusive' and 'Barcelona Nights' RRP £7.99

I've recently picked these up as they've just come over from America and love how glossy the formula is they stay for a lot longer than a regular gloss and love picking these colours for a night look.

Swatched from left to right.

Gloss

Tanya Burr 'Picnic in the Park' RRP £6.99

Revlon 'Kiss Me Coral' RRP £6.99

These are the only glosses that I've been reaching for in my make up bag I love to apply the pink gloss over my Clinique chubby stick for added shine and the coral gloss is great to wear on its own for a sheer touch of coral to your lips.

Swatched from left to right.

Lipsticks

Topshop 'Macaroon' RRP £8

MAC 'Costa Chic' RRP £15.50

MAC 'Lady Danger' RRP £15.50

These are the three lip colours that I've been constantly wearing all summer a bright coral pink, creamy coral and bright pillar box red for staple lip colours.

Swatched from left to right

What's your staple summer make up products?

Let me know in the comments!

Alexa Chung Make Up Tutorial

Do it like Chung!

I'm a huge admirer of Alexa Chung she's the epitome of cool and I've been wearing a cat eye since I was 13 so I figured I'd recreate Alexa's classic eyeliner and pillar box red lips that signify her staple make up look.

The image on the left is from Alexa being papped walking to a ballet class so of course I tried to recreate it although I don't think I'll ever look as good as Chung!

Start off with a light, natural base I'm using Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturiser 

I blend this all over my face with the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge as it works well with the moisturiser formula.

As I have used a light base I'm using a concealer that has good coverage such as this Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer.

I put this under my eyes, around my nose and on blemishes and spot that need to be covered then blend it in with the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush.

All blended!

Alexa has natural brows they are groomed in place but aren't heavily accentuated so I'm using MAC's 'Omega' eye shadow as it's a light matte taupe.

I used a sharp angled brush to fill any sparse areas in.

I set my brows using the Benefit Gimme Brow by combing the brush through my brows.

Using the Nars Eyeshadow Primer I blended a small amount on my eyelids to hold the eyeshadow for longer.

Using MAC's 'Blanc Type' (the shadow in the top left image) I blended it all over the lid and up to the brow bone this is highly pigmented and great for neutralising the eyes.

Using MAC's 'Omega' shadow I blended it in the corners and crease of my eyes as Alexa's eyelids are defined but not too heavily so a light taupe colour is perfect for this.

I then used some of my Nars Laguna Bronzer in the corners to add some warmth to the eyes as if Alexa ever choses to wear eyeshadow she usually goes for warm tones.

Alexa's signature is her classic cat eye to get this I use Loreal's Super Liner in Perfect Slim and start from 1/3 out of the inner corner of the eyes then gradually build up the thickness towards the outer corner and create a subtle cat eye flick at the end.

Trust me it just takes lots of practice to get your cat eye right, if you're out of practice keep some cotton buds and make up remover water like Bioderma close.

I'm using Rimmels Kate Moss Mascara, Alexa accents her top and bottom lashes.

To brighten the face I'm using Loreals Lumi Magique concealer for under the eyes, chin and cupids bow then blending with my fingers. 

I dusted some of MAC's Mineralise Skin Finish Natural all over my face as this powder gives a golden glow to the face making it appear more youthful and bright.

To contour I'm using my Nars Laguna Bronzer, contouring my cheekbones heavily.

I'm using my new Sleek Pink Lemonade blush I'm using the middle blush as it's cream so it will give a more natural finish to it. I dabbed some of this on my finger then blended it on my cheeks to add a subtle hint of colour nothing too heavy or done up.

Alexa herself has said that her favourite red lipstick is MAC's Lady Danger as it's 'the perfect pillar box red' so I'm using this to create the classic Alexa look.

A silly face to end on of course!

I hope you liked my Alexa Chung Tutorial this is a really quick and easy make up look to do and i've been loving wearing MAC's Lady Danger this past week.

Which make up tutorial would you like me to create next?

Let me know in the comments!

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