In My Makeup Bag

It's been a long time since I've done a really beauty focused post, so I thought it was about time to share a few of my favourite make-up bag mainstays.

First up, Quo Concealer. I love this stuff. I initially picked up a similar concealer at Shoppers, from a now defunct line called Red Earth. When they stopped making/carrying this four colour concealer I was so upset, but the Quo line has provided an almost as good substitute. This stuff has saved me on many an occasion.

My other favourite concealer is a new discovery (although I am already on my second pot) - Boi-ing from Benefit. This stuff is gold, seriously. A little pricey, but so worth every penny. And shade "1" is actually light enough for my uber-pasty complexion.

As for cheek colour, I love Georgia Peach, also by Benefit. I love the gentle colour, it adds the look I want but is totally subtle. Winner in my books.

The Nars Multiple Stick in Luxor is another favourite of mine. It adds the perfect soft shimmer for a night out, but I think my favourite use for it is a little dab in the corner of my eye on those days when I feel (and look) a little tired. The shimmer brightens up my eyes and makes me look more awake immediately.

As for eyes, I love love love the "Crème eyeshadow" palettes from Revlon. I have lost count of how many of these I have gone through. My two favourite palettes are Seashells and Not Just Nudes. These are so easy to use and blend, and although sometimes a re-application is necessary, they continue to be favourites of mine.

Currently my mascara is Captiv'Eyes from Givenchy. I love it because it is actually really brown.  I have sought long and hard in the drug-store lines for truly brown mascara and can never find it. The best option is black-brown which is essentially still black, which looks really stark against my super-fair skin for every day. So I checked out the higher end mascaras and finally found the real browns I want. This one from Givenchy has become a fast favourite.

I generally don't do a lot for lips other than gloss, but I do really like the lip stain from Covergirl. It gives a nice colour and then I pop on some trusty Labello. I'll sometimes wear lipstick when I'm going out, but this is generally my go-to for every day.

Last but not least - perfume. I love love love perfume but rarely wear since there are a lot of people who are sensitive to scents, at my last job particularly, although I am hesitant to wear it to work now although there are no scent-free signs up. In any case, in the evenings and on weekends, I do indulge. My current choice is Amazing Grace by Philosophy, although my other absolute favourite is Wisteria from Crabtree & Evelyn. I gravitate towards gentle scents, usually floral.

As a note, I will mention that none of these items have been gifted to me, or provided for review by companies, they are all honestly products I've picked out over the past months/years, and are all pretty much constant contents of my makeup bag.

What are some of the beauty products you swear by? Any recommendations?