The Makeup Bag: Valentine's Day Luxury Edition

While yesterday I featured the must have drugstore items for a perfect natural makeup on Valentine's Day, today we're focusing on my number one guilty pleasure. High end makeup. A few years ago I judged people who bought high end products and wasteful and snobbish, but boy was I wrong. I was under the impression that there was no difference between a budget product and one costing more than thirty euros, but sometimes there definitely is.

This makeup bag features products that I'm sure I can't get for cheaper. And honestly, they are worth every single penny of it. Like I said yesterday, men don't appreciate super dark intense makeup. At least, mine doesn't. The items in today's bag are all ones that warrant a gorgeous, glowing, natural makeup look that will have your person making doe eyes at you.

Start off your base with the lovely Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint. It gives a subtle light to medium coverage with a lovely glow. Cover any spots with a concealer, my favorite high end concealer is the Bobbi Brown creamy concealer. Enhance that glowing complexion further by adding a bit of definition. The Chanel Les Beiges shade that I got last summer is now definitely too dark to be using all over my face, so I use it as a subtle contour instead. This gives the prettiest look.

The Clarins Multi Blush adds a gorgeous rosy flush to the cheeks, this dries down matte which makes sure your glowing base won't become too overpowering. I'd stay away from adding to much shine, but add just a little bit of MAC Cream Color Base in the shade Pearl to the cupid's bow. This wil add more definition to your lips and make them look a little more pouty.

Curl your lashes and apply copious amounts of mascara, my product of choice is the Chanel Le Volumes de Chanel mascara. You'll want flirty lashes, so build volume by wiggling at the base and then sweep upwards to build lenght. Finish off your look by a swipe of the perfect lipgloss, Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in the shade Candy Shimmer. And that's it, your perfect Valentine's Day look sorted.

What are you doing this Valentine's Day? 

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The Makeup Bag: Valentine's Day Budget Edition

I'm not a massive fan of Valentine's Day, romance should be an everyday occurence, not reserved for a single day in february. But I know a myriad of people are going on dates coming Friday so why not put together a selection of makeup that will get you through the night while your date is making googly eyes at you.

My experience teaches me that men don't really appreciate a face caked in makeup, heavy eyes, larger than life false lashes and red pouty lips. And honeys, surely you don't want to make him look like a clown after you've laid one on him? I've put together two makeup bags, suitable for both high and low budgets. Today's version is for the lower budgets and tomorrow morning I'll post the bag for higher budgets.

I love high end products, I won't deny it, but I can admit that drugstore products can also have some great hidden gems. All of these products are great and I have really enjoyed using them, I honestly think these could easily be sold for higher prices, that's how good they are.

The base of your V-Day look should be light and natural, and barely even there. The perfect product for this is the L'Oreal Nude Magique Eau de Teint. It's super lightweight, you won't even notice it laying on your skin. It's also virtually undetectable. Coverage-wise it's pretty light, so you might need to hide any spots with a concealer. Building on that base, add a gorgeous sweep of cream blush. I'm saying cream blush because it generally looks more natural, like you're flushed from within. My favorite drugstore cream blushes are without a doubt by Bourjois. They have a small range of shades, but shade number two is my favorite, it's called Nude Velvet.

I don't know about you, but I'm one pasty girl in the winter. Add a little definition and depth to your face with some bronzer. Another Bourjois product here, as their bronzing cream is super natural and easy to apply with just your fingers. If you really want to look from within, add a highlight to the highpoints of your face, the cheekbones, the cupid's bow and the brow bone. I love the liquid/cream formula of the Body Shop's Radiant Highlighter.

Add whatever you want to your eyes, but keep it natural. I often wear my eyes bare with just loads of mascara. Make sure you use a mascara that still makes your lashes look like lashes, instead of spider legs. The Essence Get Big Lashes volume mascara is cheap as chips but works like a charm. It lenghtens and thickens lashes and holds a curl for a long time.

Finish off the look with a long lasting but subtle color. I used the Topshop lip crayon in Powder Room. Super pretty and girly, but it won't rub off when you smooch, and it will even last through a dinner.

These items are all you need for a budget friendly makeup bag. Products don't need to be expensive to be great, and this proves it. What is your favorite drugstore makeup product?

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The Makeup Bag: Birthday Edition

Although it might not be my actual birthday today, I am celebrating it with my family and friends. Tonight the house will be filled with merry folk indulging in cake and other treats that come with associated with birthday parties. It's a special one this year, as I am turning twenty-one. 

It's a little past four pm now and I have yet to decide what I am wearing tonight, but I have planned the makeup look I'll be rocking. I haven't been wearing a lot of heavy makeup for the last few months and I wasn't about to change that just because it's my birthday. I have picked a few products that will look lovely and last all night. My birthday makeup looks like this.