5 things to buy at the Drugstore

While I love my high end products, my bank balance most certainly does not so its great when I find affordable products that I really, really love. Some cosmetics, such as Mascara make far more sense to get cheaply, especially as they dry out within a couple of weeks. I love Maybelline's Mascara offerings, they have such a huge range now and while I'm not one for excessive marketing and brightly coloured, garish packaging - they really do get the job done. My pick would be the Volum' Express The Collossal Mascara, although targeted at volumizing the lashes this formula is a great all rounder, lenghening lashes and holding curl. I currently have the waterproof version, which really doesn't budge until it meets a balm cleanser or oil based make up remover.

The Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation has been a solid favourite of mine since its release years ago, I love a glowy finish and the light reflecting particles in this base lift your complexion creating the look of really healthy skin. I find this quite comparable to my much loved Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer, it offers the same sort of finish but with a little more coverage.
One thing that I hate spending money on is expensive hair styling products especially as I get through them so quickly. The Charles Worthington Texturising Spray is a pretty good dupe for the renowned Oribe Dry Texturising Spray, but for a fraction of the price. This adds volume and texture to freshly washed, uncooperative hair and helps to keep your style in place as well.
I love my Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencils but the Maybelline Colour Drama Lip Pencils are a great alternative. These pencils are creamy, pigmented and long lasting and come in some lovely shades. I can't live without Fab Orange - a bright orange red, or Nude Perfection which is a Tawny Nude shade.
Great skincare can be difficult to find on a budget, but one brand that has always impressed me has been the Superfacialist by Una Brennan range at boots. I have been using the Vitamin C+ Glow Boost Serum every morning for the last few months and my skin looks noticeably brighter and happier. I've tried a few other bits from the range as well like the Vitamin C+ Skin Renew Cleansing Oil which is a lovely first cleanse, and my Mum swears by the Super Lift Night Cream.

Weekend Away Make up Bag

My boyfriend and I have just gotten back from spending the weekend in London, and I thought I would share the 'capsule' make up items that I chose to bring. I love reading these types of posts, its so interesting to see which products really make the cut when you have limited space.

My current make up bag is this Flat Scuba and leather pouch from & Other Stories. I would normally be one to bring a massive make up bag and then fill it with six lip options (for a three day trip) but this time I set myself the challenge of actually packing light. I really like the simple design of this pouch, and the easily cleanable scuba fabric.

Base wise, it has to be the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation. This product just ticks all the boxes, its easily buildable, offers flawless coverage and a radiant finish... and it stays that way for a really long time.  The only issue with this one is the packaging isn't exactly travel friendly, so I de-potted enough for the trip into a old tester container. For concealer, my favourite all rounder is the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer. Creamy enough for under the eyes and covering enough to deal with any blemishes that may pop up.

The powder I took is the Rimmel London Stay Matte - cheap, cheerful and keeps any shine at bay.

For the eyes, the Illamasqua Neutral Palette really has it covered. It contains three matte neutrals for the daytime, while the fourth shade is a beautiful metallic bronze. All of the shades are soft and pigmented, and I also doubled up and used the black as a liner. 

The Lancome Hypnose Mascara has always been a favourite of mine as it delivers long, fluttery lashes, but can also be built up to get a really intense look.

The Contour and Highlight I chose to bring were both from Kevin Aucoin. The Sculpting Powder is a soft brown shade that somehow adds some shape to my face, and The Celestial Powder in Candlelight leaves the prettiest glow across the cheekbones. One of my most used blushes is the Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush in Exposed, a dusky rose shade that works with any lip or eye colour. These blushes last really well on the skin and Exposed is such a versatile shade, so its perfect for a weekend away.

I love using lip pencils, they define your lip shape and are really long lasting. MAC's Spice is a dark, brownish nude that gives you that whole Kylie Jenner thing going on. I wore this alone in the day time, but it also works really well as a base for lots of other lip colours. The shade I packed for the weekend is a new purchace, Amorous by MAC. Its a gorgeous cranberry shade, that I found to be really wearable, so I know this is one I'll be getting a lot of use out of.

Current Nail Picks

Apart from a good old Coral or Orangey red shade, I much prefer Autumn/Winters colour palette. I've noticed there are some lovely nail colours around in the drugstore at the moment and the formulas are pretty great too. Starting off with the Maybelline Super Stay 7 days Gel Colour in Nude Rose. 

The Super Stay Polishes are one of my all time favourite nail colours, they really do last a week and have a great range of pretty, wearable colours. This shade in particular is a gorgeous muted rose shade, perfect if you want to wear colour but are not a fan of brights.

 Next up is the Rimmel Lasting Finish Nail Polish in Get in While its Hot. I applied this when I had just done my weekly tan routine, and fell in love. It really is a 'tan' beige colour so it looks like the perfect nude on a tanned complexion. I think this is a really original shade as it is a much darker nude than many you see available. I know it is as long lasting as its name suggests, as it was still my nails at the end of the week when my tan was fading away. I did remove it at this point though as this shade is not nearly as flattering when your pale!

 The Maybelline Colour Show Polishes really are a steal at just £2.99. They have loads of lovely shades including 'Downtown Red' which is a pretty darkened red that I have been wearing non stop recently!

 And finally, the most expensive of these offerings is 'Sole Mate' by Essie. A gorgeous deep Plum, I love the vampy, wintery look this creates. This varnish also has an amazing shine to it, so you could go without a top coat if you wanted. 

October

The second the clocks go back I suddenly start feeling all autumnal and that definitely shows in the products I've been reaching for this month. Once the weather gets colder I immediately notice a change in my skin and really have to step up the moisture if I want to stop things getting chapped and dry. Every winter I end up reaching for the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant. This multi purpose balm has you pretty much sorted for lips, elbows, cuticles and any other dry bits you can think of. After just one use it already begins to restore sore lips, and this tube has lasted me forever! 

As for my hair, it needs extra moisture and attention all year round, due to the excessive straightening I put it through daily... I know its bad. A product I've been loving recently is the Aveda Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair. Containing Quinoa protein, its aimed to prevent damage and work towards getting your hair in a better condition. I rub a pea size amount through the ends of my hair when wet, and I've seen an improvement in the amount of breakage going on. It also smells all lovely and spa like, so feels like a treat to use. 

I love a dark lip in winter, and I've gone straight back to a favourite from last year; Starry Eyed Lasting Finish Lipstick by Rimmel. I find it sits in the middle of being purple and red toned, which makes it a flattering shade on a lot of skin tones. I also love to dab this on lightly for daytime which creates a really pretty berry stain that lasts for hours. The formula of this lipstick is great, creamy and almost matte (my favourite) but not drying on the lips at all. 

To warm up my skin tone I've been reaching for a M.A.C Mineralise Blush in Warm Soul. A gorgeous golden peach shade, I have been blending this down my cheekbones and onto the apples for a subtle bronzy glow. The Mineralise Blushers are great as there isn't really any need for a highlight, but this also looks lovely in the evening with a bit of M.A.C Soft and Gentle for extra sheen. 

Lastly this month I've been getting use out of a gift I received a while ago, the Aromatherapy Associates Relax Eye Mask. Not going to lie I do feel like the price of this mask is slightly ridiculous, but I have a serious curtain problem at the moment and this has been helping me get my weekend 

lie ins! The lavender inside the mask smells great, and with the tie strap and soft velvety fabric this is definitely the most comfortable (and luxurious) eye mask I've ever used!