What's in my Makeup Bag | J1 Edition

I can't believe that tomorrow I jet off to San Diego! I'm so excited for the three months ahead already and it is almost here. Today I thought I would share with you what makeup I brought with me. My overdramatic self would say 'but what if you desperately need that dewy medium coverage that Nars Sheer Glow gives you?!' but I had to shut myself down and (try) keep it minimal (Did I keep it minimal? Nope).

I made a quick checklist of items that you may want to bring with you:

• Tinted moisturiser- for everyday wear.
• A higher coverage foundation.
• Concealer.
• Brow product.
• Primer.
• One or two blushes.
• Bronzer.
• Highlighter.
• One or two neutral eyeshadow palette (a tough decision for makeup lovers, I know)
• Eyeliner.
• Mascara.
• Lip products (One or two bold and one or two natural).
• Setting Spray/ Powder.
• Miscellaneous- Tweezers, eyelash glue, cotton pads, cotton swabs, tape for eyeshadow, etc. 

Now lets move onto what I'm bringing (lol at the fact that I didn't stick by my own list)..

 BASE

I am bringing along the newest edition to my makeup collection, my Nars Tinted Moisturiser which I am very excited to try. I'll be wearing this as my everyday base as I wanted something lighter for during the day. For heavier coverage I'm bringing my MAC Studio Fix Fluid in two shades (I know I know), I swear I need them both!! Aaand for a medium coverage I am bringing my Covergirl 3 in 1 foundation- a product you have to buy if you're heading stateside anytime soon. Primer wise, I have my L'Oreal Lumi Magique and my Benefit Porefessional as always. To cover my bags I have included my MAC Pro Longwear concealer along with my Tarte Corrector. I also have my Makeup Forever HD Loose Powder to set everything and my Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Whiz for my brows.

CHEEKS

For a highlighter I have Champagne Pop as it is the best and my Topshop Glow Pot in Polished. I am throwing in my Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Topaz too incase I want more of a glowy bronzer. As for blush, I have my Sleek blush palette. For a cream contour, my Smashbox contour sticks are coming along too.

EYES

Probably the hardest decision of the lot but I settled on my UD x Gwen Stefani Palette, my UD Smokey palette and my Two Faced Natural Eyes Matte palette because it is just so versatile. I brought my MAC quad too with the shades 'Woodwinked', 'Nylon', 'Sumptuous Olive' and 'Antiqued' because I have nothing else like them in my collection. For mascara I have my Benefit Roller Lash.

LIPS

Well this was a struggle.. The lipsticks I chose in the end were Russian Red, All Fired Up and Whirl from MAC, Glastonberry from Charlotte Tilbury and Dolce K and True Brown K from Kylie Cosmetics. 

Don't forget to follow me on my social media below to keep up with my San Diego adventure!

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Stepping out of my Comfort Zone | OOTD

Between the end of semester rush of exams and trying to get assignments finished, getting the final few bits ready for my J1 as well as trying to keep my social life in tact, May has been crazy so far! The scariest thing is that as of yesterday, I am finished my second year in college.. This semester has probably been the best I've had so far and although there were nothing but complaints along the way, I really will miss it over the summer. I feel like I finally came to love college again this semester because I finally started to step out of my comfort zone.

I have always been the quiet one. In primary school I was painfully shy, in secondary school I never would speak up or have my say, even last year in college the thought of wanting to do a presentation made me sick to my stomach but slowly but surely I'm getting better and why is that? I have started doing things that I never would have before. My blog is a platform that I am eternally grateful for, through social media and blog events I have started to gain confidence and embracing opportunities that I'm presented with. One day it just came over me that why should I care about what others think of me? I just need to live for today, do what I love and strive to do my best, which is why I just had to get away this summer.

As you may have heard me talk about a million times before (I feel like I never stop talking about it at this stage haha), I'm going on a J1 in two weeks, which means packing my bags and moving to San Diego, California for three months. It is something that I have dreamed about for years and I can't believe it has actually come around so fast. I had so much regret about last summer, although I got to go on an amazing holiday to Florida, my summer felt unfulfilled and uneventful. When push came to shove, I actually was scared that this summer would be the same and it would pass by with the same regret. I knew I had to do something worthwhile. Back in October or November, on a stroll along the beach with my best friend Lizzy one evening we decided, lets do it and I'm so glad we did. I can't say I am a home bird- I was shipped off to Connemara in Galway for three weeks every summer from the age of 13 with no sign of being homesick, to be honest I was counting down the days until we had to go and I was practically running out the door when the time came but this is different. To move country for three months is a big step, I'll be thrown into unknown territory with only one familiar face and living on my own for the very first time but I can't help be excited by the thought of it all.

If you take anything away from this post, take risks, step out of your comfort zone and just do things NOW. If Lizzy and I didn't arrange to go on this experience of a lifetime a few months ago then I would be complaining right now about not doing anything worthwhile for summer. If you're in college, get an internship, join a sport or even start a blog, do what you want to do. Keep busy, grow as a person and keep on bettering yourself, you'll thank yourself later. 

Shirt / Jeans / Boots / Sunglasses (Quay x Amanda Steele)

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The Anti Spring Beauty Edit

Well the sun is out and it most certainly feels like summer! With that, as much as I want to tell you that I completely change up my look for Spring and Summer, I really don't! Even though I have decided to switch things up a bit in the makeup department I can't get rid of a bold lip even though the seasons have changed (a leopard can't change his spots ay?). Nevertheless I decided to bring to you my current favourite makeup look, aka, the Anti Spring Makeup look!

 

BASE

During the Spring/ Summer months I like to keep things a bit less matte and add some glow. To achieve this I mix the L'Oreal Lumi Magique Primer with my MAC Studio Fix Fluid. The primer just lightens it up a little as it is quite a heavy coverage foundation. Underneath I put on my Tarte Under Eye CC Corrector to cancel out my dark circles and primed my face with the Benefit Porefessional as usual.  For concealer I used my MAC Pro Longwear.

CHEEKS

Lately I have been loving cream contouring.. These Smashbox Contour Sticks are what I have been using to chisel out my cheekbones and highlight. Using the 'Contour' stick, I place it in the hollows of my cheeks, down the sides of my nose and on my forehead. Moving on to the 'Highlight' stick, I place it down the bridge of my nose, on my cupids bow and on my chin. After blending it all in, I set my makeup with the Makeup Forever HD Loose Powder. I then highlight with the fabulous Champagne Pop. and I lightly bronze with my new favourite product, the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Topaz, it just gives the most beautiful bronzed sheen to your face!

EYES

Keeping it simple I just put 'Password', 'Dagger' and 'Black Market' from my new love, the Naked Smoky Palette through my crease and highlighted with Nylon in the inner corner. For lashes I used the Demi Whispies by Ardell with my Duo lash glue.

LIPS

Ah the best part! For this look I used the Kylie Lip Kit in True Brown K. Who knew brown lipstick would be a thing? But I bloody love it! That's the power of the Kardashians for you!! I have a first impressions post all about it here if you want to check it out.

Happy Saturday everyone, I hope you enjoyed this post and have a great weekend!

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