My Must Haves.

Here's a run down of my survival gear. Well, not quite because the list is quite extensive and I doubt it would all fit in an emergency bag, so here's a run down of my beauty essentials and my much recommended products - I hope it's of some use to you!

For starters, Benefit's 'Porefessional' is one beauty must-have. 


If you buy one cosmetic purchase this season, make it this because it is an absolute life-saver!


The Porefessional claims to minimise the appearance of pores whilst remaining oil-free, lightweight and silky on the skin.


The translucent cream is so easy to apply - and you don't need a lot of it. I apply it all over as I find it resurrects my uneven skintone, slightly conceals any blemishes and primes my skin ready for my foundation.


You can use it over a moisturiser but as I have an oily complexion, I find this used alone is adequate and it doesn't dry out my skin.


It retails at £23.50 but is worth every penny and can be bought from department stores (Debenhams and House of Fraser in Carlisle), and other Benefit retailers.


Moving onto foundation, I'm currently using, and fully enthusing about Rimmel's 'Wake Me Up' foundation.

It has an anti-fatigue effect and gives off a radiant glow. It is proven to visibly reawaken skin and illuminate the face, all the while giving off a natural-looking, flawless finish through the peptide and vitamin moisturising complex.


The foundation contains SPF 15 which is great for when you're on the go  and I feel that it stays put all day (although I reapply it before work or a night out). 


I believe very much in the product and despite not being oil-free, it doesn't make my skin throw a wobbly like other foundations and it makes my skin glow without being shiny!


For just £8.99, it's a beauty must-have in my kit and is readily available in the likes of Boots and Superdrug.


Eyebrows. Always a talking point. And I've got the answer. 


This is without a doubt the best product I have come across to answer all eyebrow dilemmas!



Benefit (again) have created a product so perfect and clever, you can cancel that eyebrow appointment right now!


'Browzings' comes in three shades (light, medium and dark) and comes complete with coloured wax and a coloured powder. The set also comes with a mirror, a blending brush, a hard angled brush and a pair of tweezers.

Before Browzings

You simply apply the wax to the eyebrow hair with the hard angled brush to shape the hair and keep it in place before using the blending brush to apply a colour to the eyebrows. 


You don't need a lot of wax and you certainly don't need a lot of the colour because these two combined officially define your eyebrows! 


The tweezers are there just to catch any stray hairs!


For those in doubt, the kit comes with instructions!

After Browzings

Browzings will set you back £23 but as you need very little of the wax and powder, it lasts forever, so see it as an investment!


Moving onto mascara, because if there's one product I'm applying, it's this!


Eye make up is essential to me. It can change the whole look of your face in a single sweep - so best make that sweep a good'un!

If I was limited to one mascara for the rest of my days, hands down, Benefit's 'They're Real' would win every time. 


It lengthens, curls, creates drama, lifts and separates.


I don't know the secret, Im sure not many people do as all the other brands would be copying but it creates an excellent finish. It takes me about two minutes to apply properly and it lasts all day.


I start by doing gentle strokes in an upwards direction, at the middle before paying attention to the inner corners of my eyes, and then the outer edges. 


I then move the brush horizontally over my lashes to build a bit of volume in the lashes before repeating the process again. 


I can do this up to three times to create the desired look before having to tone them down because the results it gives could really could put falsies out of business!

The contrast of before & after
using 'They're Real'

It will set you back £18.50 but boy is is worth it!


To shape the eyes, another product on my list in Rimmel's Exaggerate Eyeliner Intense. 


It's a liquid eyeliner, and is the easiest eyeliner I've tried to apply - I don't have steady hands! 


It comes in at £5.29 so it doesn't break the bank and it stays on all day!


If I'm after a softer look, I also have faith in Rimmel's Soft Khol Kajal Eye Liner Pencil as it too lasts for the majority of the day - I do reapply at intervals throughout the day, but that's just to keep the intensity of the colour. 


The pencil costs a measly £2.99!


To inject a little colour, Clinique's blushers are an excellent way to go. As long as they are applied correctly to enhance your features, you're onto a winner! - they come with an angled brush for that purpose!


I'm using Clinique's Blushing Blush blusher in Innocent Peach as that really compliments my pale skin tone but there's various other shades to choose from. 


They retail at £20 and again last and last! Clinique products are available at department stores in town and in Boots.

Having only recently started using lipstick instead of lipgloss, the best one I have come across is a Clinique one.


I have tried various other branded makes like Estee Lauder  and Channel but I find that Clinique's Long Last Lipstick holds for a good few hours, comes in a variety of excellent colours which stay put, and it keeps my lips soft and hydrated.


I'm currently using one in Blushing Nude and it's a really nice shade that's not too overpowering and is suited to my complexion again. 


I would definitely recommend having a look at the variety of colours they have available! It is £16 for one of the lipsticks in this range but it a superb colour and they last yet again!


And also in preparation for the summer, a tan is essential!



My quick fix to hours on the sun bed would be Bourjois' Delice de Solei instant spray tan. 


It's a bronzing powder for the face and body and it gives an even result (when sprayed and rubbed in with a mitt) and it claims to stay put for one day so it's perfect for nights out or when the sun makes an unexpected appearance.


It retails at £7.99 from Boots and Superdrug but is quick to sell out so get it while you can! 


Moving onto hair, Bed Head Tigi Masterpiece Massive Shine Hairspray is my failsafe hairspray - actual-couldn't-live-without-product as it does everything you want from a hair spray. 
It gives you volume, it holds your style in place and it smells divine!


As it is professional haircare, it's only available in salons and costs £13 but again, it's another pricey product that lasts!


I've rambled on and listed quite a few of my beauty must-haves here, and I have many more! - but if you've made it to this point, well done and I won't bore you anymore!