What's In My Makeup Bag?

I've never been one to carry a makeup bag around with me, purely because I never really carried a handbag either! But lately I've found that rather than rummaging through my collection everyday to reach for the same products, I should just put all my most used items in a makeup bag to make my life a whole lot easier! 

So this is my makeup bag, it is so tiny and I really do need to replace it but the fact that it's small means it fits in any size bag, for the most part! I bought it for £1 in a cheap shop in the UK, it's just a clear plastic makeup bag with a pink edging and pattern running across it. It fits just about anything and everything I need everyday in it!

Let's dive in, these are not in order of how I apply/wear them, it's just as I took it out!

The first thing I have is my foundation, if you follow my blog you'll know this is my favourite foundation to date! It's the Max Factor Face Finity All Day Flawless 3 in 1 foundation. It covers everything and leaves a nice smooth finish to the skin. I have a review of this foundation already on my blog if you want to see a more detailed post all about it!

Next I have a clear mascara, this one I got from one of those teen magazines years ago. I use this simply to set my brows in place as it does a good job and doesn't leave them looking crispy and just tames them even more!

Then I have the Rimmel Match Perfection concealer. Although this isn't my go-to concealer any more, I keep it in my makeup bag as I like to use it to highlight areas of my face such as my cupids bow and the bridge of my nose. The coverage is also good and does help hide anything I don't want showing!

This is my favourite concealer to date, again if you follow my blog you'll know I adore this concealer! This is the Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer, it really does cover everything you need it to and it makes your eyes brighter and it's just amazing. It doesn't really settle into fine lines and it's just an overall great concealer.

For my brows I use the MUA Pro-Brow Ultimate Eyebrow Kit in Dark. The shade is perfect for my brows and it doesn't smudge or wear off. This product alongside the clear mascara are a great duo and work perfectly together!

Mascara is a sensitive topic as I can never find one I am 100% happy with, although I can't say it's my all time favourite, it is the best I've used so far. This is the Maybelline Rocket Volume Mascara, I don't feel it gives my lashes much volume and they also don't look as thick as I'd like them to. If you have any recommendations please let me know!!

Another product which has been previously mentioned on my blog, the Rimmel Soft Kohl Eyeliner Pencil. I don't use this product too often but it is perfect for smudging along the lash line for a smokey look. This is my go-to product for those type of looks!

I don't wear this lipstick often but I keep it in as an option. This is the Collection Duluxe lipstick in 01 Prohibition. It's a great deep pink/berry colour for winter and adds to any natural makeup look for a pop of colour! I would definitely recommend this as an affordable lipstick.

I've moved away from loving the baby lips products by Maybelline. However I keep this one in my makeup bag just incase I forget a lip balm and I need to hydrate my lips before applying lipstick. The product is good but I'm not a huge fan anymore.

This is my all time favourite lipstick, I always wear this lipstick if I want just a subtle but still nude lip. This is the Kate Moss by Rimmel lipstick in the shade 08. It's a perfect deep peach colour (if that makes sense). I definitely recommend everyone has it in their collection, I can't get enough of it!

A lipstick which I carry that is also from Kate Moss by Rimmel is the lipstick in the shade 107. It is similar to the one I mentioned earlier by Collection, however this one is matte and is a lot darker. The lasting power is amazing and with a lip liner underneath it, it really completes a look.

I cannot stress to you guys enough how much I love this gel liner. This is the Maybelline EyeStudio Lasting Drama 24hr Gel Eyeliner. The brush it comes with really helps create the perfect winged look and it lasts for hours and hours! Really cannot get enough of this product!

Finally, although it doesn't fit in my makeup bag, it always sits right beside it. This is my beloved MUA Heaven and Earth palette. I do use other eyeshadows on a regular basis to switch up my look, however I've noticed that when I'm in a rush I always reach for this as my go-to palette.

So here are all the products I have in my makeup bag! I hope you enjoyed this insight into my most used products. Let me know what your favourite go-to products are and your opinions on any I have shared with you.

Don't forget you can follow me on bloglovin' and twitter (@kxtiecollected)

Take Care!

- Katie x

Favourite Winter Founadation // BeautieCollected

I've been such a slacker with my blog lately, which I do apologise for! Everything has cropped up and I haven't had time to sit and prepare or write any posts for you guys. However, I'm going to try my best to upload more frequently for you guys! So let me know any posts you'd like to see!

For the longest time I have struggled to find the perfect foundation for winter, because it's so cold so my skin gets even more dry that usual and it's just one hot mess! Although I think I've cracked my problem and found the perfect long lasting foundation and concealer combo for this winter!

Starting off with foundation, I featured this in my latest haul post, this is the Max Factor Face Finity All Day Flawless 3 in 1 Foundation. This foundation leaves your face looking almost perfectly smooth (and yes I do suffer from acne at times) and it really evens out the complexion. I find that if I use a powder I end up looking slightly too matte and powdery as this finish is middle of the road between matte and natural. I would recommend only using a powder if you really need to.

For application, I use my Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. It leaves the perfect finish for this foundation!

Concealer wise, I don't like anything too heavy, especially in winter. A current LOVE of mine right now is the Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer. It helps brighten your under-eyes without it seeming too heavy or cakey! One issue I do have, is after a full day's wear (9am-5pm typically) it seems to lightly find it's way into my fine lines under my eyes. However, overall I would put up with that as the positives totally outweigh the negatives. 

To apply this, I use the tip of my miracle complexion sponge to help me get into the very corner of my eye and blend it in well!

On their own they work fabulously! But together they are a miracle-working match made in heaven! I definitely recommend you try out these products and let me know how you feel about them!

Also let me know what posts you would like to see! There will definitely be more frequent posts from here on out!

Take care!

- Katie x

Welcoming Winter Haul // BeautieCollected

So as winter is well on it's way, I decided this was the perfect excuse to go shopping to revamp my daily makeup...and because I wanted a seemingly valid excuse to shop! So I took advantage of Superdrug's 3 for 2 offer and dived straight into the makeup section without batting an eyelid! I also stopped by Boots quickly for a couple of bits! So here's a little winter haul for you all!

The first place I went was Superdrug, I've been having a lot of issues with my skincare lately! My old skincare routine, which was my first ever post, isn't really working for me with regards to the products I'm cleaning my face with as I keep breaking out when I've used them! So I thought I'd take advantage of a buy one get one free offer and try some Clearasil products! I haven't really seen Clearasil being raved about among the beauty community, but what I have heard of it has been good, plus I have used other Clearasil products before! So I thought I'd pick this one up!

This is the Clearasil Ultra Rapid Action Gel Wash! It washes my face perfectly and leaves it smooth and soft. It also helps get any makeup left overs off if you haven't been able to remove it beforehand! As an acne sufferer, I would definitely recommend this to someone who also suffers, as well as to anyone that wanted to to try something new!

My biggest purchase came from Boots, which was this... the Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream perfume! I haven't had a new perfume in a long time so I thought I'd bite the bullet and get myself the small size of a popular one just to try it out. It is safe to say I really do like the scent of this perfume and it's lasting time is incredible! You do not need a lot at all and it stays all day!

To pair up with the gel wash, I picked up these Clearasil Ultra Rapid Action Pads. I use these in the morning and evening after washing my face just to get rid of anything the face wash may have left behind. When using this I wouldn't recommend going to close to the under-eye circle area, as the 'fumes' from the product do tend to rise to the eye and can sting a little, but it won't hurt you!

I'm really bad when it comes to eyeshadow, I always need more and more, even if I have bought one two days ago I always need more! This is the MUA Undress Me Too palette!

 The colour range is amazing, how they all stay pretty neutral but the shimmer helps make them stand out and makes them unique to just your average nude palette! Having the black shade helps deepen any look, as with a light hand, it can look amazing at any time of the day!

The Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge has been on my shopping list for a while but I have always put it off as I thought 'I already have a makeup brush, it won't even make a difference'... Believe me, it does! Anyone that hasn't used a good quality makeup sponge should definitely invest in this one! It leaves my foundation looking flawless and eliminates the streaks from using brushes!

My brows are a daily struggle, I thought I'd buy a cheap but cheerful brow palette just to help me in my morning battles.

I got this MUA Pro-Brow palette in Dark as my hair is naturally dark, and it comes with a mini brush and tweezers. I love using the mini brush for my brows as it is dense and helps get them done fast! I would definitely recommend this to someone that needs a good but cheap brow palette

This foundation has quickly become my favourite, no questions asked. This is the Max Factor FaceFinity All Day Flawless 3 in 1 Foundation. I finish of this foundation is perfect, it smooths out the skin leaving it look soft and helps even out the tone of the skin. The coverage is definitely on the higher end but is not cakey at all (if you apply it right - I use my sponge to apply this). I can't recommend this foundation enough!

I finally caved and picked up the Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer. This concealer is perfect for blemishes and under-eye circles, pairing this with the Max Factor foundation, they create the dream team! The coverage isn't cakey at all but it gets the job done! I highly recommend this product!

I think many people would agree that this lipstick is a winter classic, it's the Rimmel Kate Moss lipstick in the shade 107. It's a wonderful plum colour, however it does come out more red on the lips! This is definitely complementary on deeper and olive skin tones. But it would also look fabulous on a paler skin tone. I was told on several occasions on twitter chats that this is a must have for winter and I have been living with it on ever since! 

Another 'caving in' purchase! I needed to change up my mascara as my old one was way too old to use and became dry and clumpy very fast!

This is the Maybelline Rocket Volume Mascara, at first I thought this was too clumpy and wet with regards to its consistency, however I left it for a couple of days and after that it was perfect for me to use! I love the wand this mascara comes with also, as it doesn't load too much product on at one and you can really comb through the lashes! I definitely notice a difference with the volume of my lashes, this is also a perfect mascara for someone who likes a natural effect as you can build it up or leave it with one coat!

So there we have it, my welcoming winder haul! It doesn't seem like much looking at it now, but then I thought I'd bought out the whole shop! Let me know what your favourite winter products are and what you thing of the ones in this post if you have used them before!

Take Care!

- Katie x

Batiste Dry Shampoo: Friend or Foe? // BeautieCollected

I think almost everyone has experienced at least one dry shampoo horror over their time, and if not...HOW?! Before I even bought a dry shampoo, I watched so many videos and read so many blogposts about how to apply it and use it correctly so you don't look like a massive plonker. However, it's probably no surprise to some people that, no matter how many videos I watched, or tutorials I read...I still made myself look like a massive plonker!

Batiste is the most common and popular dry shampoo, not only is it affordable but it works *temporary* miracles! Dry shampoo is by no means an answer to not washing your hair, because trust me when I say that if your hair is too dirty and greasy...it doesn't work and feel absolutely disgusting! 

I tend to use this product more on second and maybe third day hair...at a push. This is because I found that if I use it past that, it doesn't work and I just make myself look worse! The product aims to absorb the oils from your hair to make it look and feel fresh and clean, which helps it last an extra day if you woke up late and forgot to wash your hair!

I also sometimes use this on freshly washed and dried hair as I feel it adds a nice bit of texture to my hair and helps hold a style, rather than it being totally sleek and smooth and unable to hold itself in a bobby pin. The fact it absorbs oils means it doesn't really add any sticky residue to your hair, as many other products do...it actually benefits you! 

It sprays like an aerosol deodorant onto your hair, and it is white. Now don't panic that you may have just spray painted your hair white for a while...you haven't! Once you have applied it to the areas you wish to cover, take your *clean* hands and massage it into your hair with your finger tips, this will make it blend in and not appear white anymore!

It comes in a variety of scents, the one I prefer the most is the "Clean & Classic Original" - It just has a fresh and clean scent which I prefer, rather than shoving my hair full of different scents and products! You can also purchase one for brunettes which has a brown spray I believe, although I'm a bit conscientious about using this as I don't want any change to my hair colour (there is no guarantee this will happen, although I don't wish to take the risks!)

I think as long as you apply it correctly, and just take time to learn the best way it works for you, then you shouldn't be afraid of using it! Dry shampoo is friend NOT foe!

Which brand of dry shampoo is your all time favourite?!

Take care!

- Katie x

Soft Kohl Eyeliner: Rimmel // BeautieCollected

I'm sure I'm not the only one when I say that eyeliner is a staple in my everyday makeup. With just an eyeliner alone you can create so many looks that appear as if you spent about an hour attempting to perfect it! My preference of eyeliner has always been kohl, I love the way you can slightly smudge it so it doesn't seem too harsh for more casual wear, or you can build it up so it is more bold and daring! I'm still on the market for a decent kohl eyeliner that is affordable but does a perfect job! Obviously, as the saying goes "You have to kiss a few frogs before you find your prince"...putting this in eyeliner terms, there's going to be a dodgey few before the perfect one comes along!

The one I wanted to try out was this Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal Eyeliner Pencil. This retails for £2.99 in Boots and is essentially an extremely affordable kohl eyeliner. My first test whenever I buy an eyeliner is how dark the pigmentation is and how it feels. When applying it, this eyeliner seemed to have a very impressive colour pay off, it was black and not some sort of patchy make-do shade. Also, it didn't tug on my eye when I applied it, which is sometimes really hard to find in cheaper eyeliners!

The consistency of the eyeliner is the perfect combination of being creamy and blend-able, yet firm enough to apply without it going all over the place! One thing I like about this eyeliner is that the end rounds off with use and becomes more soft, rather than being pointy and jagged! This makes it a lot easier to apply and layer up once I have smudged a section out, and just makes it so much easier to work with in general!

My only issue with this eyeliner is the lasting power, I find that once I've applied it in the morning and had a full day out and about, by the time I get home it's almost non-existent apart from the little part at the roots of my lashes! I'm not sure if this is me doing something wrong with regards to applying it, but for me it doesn't last as long as I would like it do. 

So overall I'd definitely recommend this eyeliner for someone that is on a budget and wants something affordable, great to work with and that gives you endless possibilities as a product! 

If you have any tips that I can use to see if I can increase the lasting power of my eyeliner in general please let me know in a tweet (@kxtiecollected)!

Take Care!

- Katie x

Rimmel Volume Flash X10 Mascara ~ Yay Or Nay // BeautieCollected

Earlier this month I went out and bought a couple bits and bobs to try out, one of those being this Rimmel Volume Flash X10 mascara. I'm a big fan of finding cheap products that do wonders, especially with mascara as I find it dries up before you can really use it all! With this in mind, I went out and bought a cheap mascara that I thought I'd give a go and see how it went!

This mascara retails for £5.99 in Boots, you can also purchase it in "Extreme Black" "Black" "Black Brown" and "Waterproof Black" - straight off the bat this mascara is catering for many different types of people, this will cause it to gain more attention. 

First Impression: I'm usually that person that would open the mascara, have a little look at the wand, then not use it till the next day or the day after that! This time, I decided I would open it only when I was going to use it, so essentially the product inside didn't start to dry up or change from what it was. The first time I used it, I absolutely loved it! It separated my lashes perfectly, it made them look extremely long, however it didn't make my lashes as voluminous as I expected it to, however there was enough definition there for me to be satisfied regardless.

The want itself isn't too large, in fact it's quite petite to say it's a mascara that should give a voluminous effect. The smaller wand helps you coat every lash as you want it and to precisely coat your lashes, rather than going and throwing it on and hoping for the best!

The disappointing aspect to this mascara is that a few days after opening the product, I revisited it as I knew I loved it the first time round. Since I opened it, I assume it must be due to having the brief opportunity to dry up and it just became extremely clumpy and hard to work with. Every time I would try remove a clump, an even bigger one would form and it just became uncontrollable and a right royal pain!

I attempted to use it again and the same situation occured! I personally am not a fan of the clumpy look, I like full looking lashes, but not clumpy looking ones! Because of this, I have to say that this product is a NAY for me! If it stayed in the state it was in when I first used it, then it would definitely be a yay...but not this time unfortunately!

Are there any products you'd like to see me review? Let me know in a comment or a tweet!

Take Care!

- Katie x

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water Review // BeautieCollected

I'm very picky when it comes to removing my makeup, not just because I want only the very best products to do the job, as I find I can make a lot of different products work for me even if they didn't to start off with! Personally I feel it's all about how you use it, not the product itself...only sometimes though!! 

Micellar waters have been a beauty craze for what seems like a good year or two now, I believe they started to come onto the scene when every blogger seemed to pick up Bioderma, which is a brand of micellar cleansing water. I personally have never tried it, but there are so many good reviews out there that I must remember to give it a whirl!

I mentioned in my very first blogpost back in September that I used the L'Oreal micellar water religiously! It was the only makeup remover I would use as it was what I knew worked for my skin, and the last thing anybody wants is a pesky breakout after having relatively clear skin for quite a while! After running out of the L'Oreal water, I opted for one which was on offer for £2.50 at the time I purchased it. This is the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water.

From my experience, I can't tell a major difference in the two products - they both do the same job pretty much the same way...after all they are the same product! However, to be gentle on the bank balance I would recommend the Garnier version over the L'Oreal one as even at full price it is cheaper and easier to purchase if you are on a budget.

The Garnier version claims that this bottle of micellar water will do 200 uses - which is pretty fantastic if it's not a false claim! Obviously we all use more than one cotton pad of makeup remover to get rid of every trace of makeup, but it's always good to know a rough estimate of uses!

As for actual removal, it does a brilliant job of taking off your foundation, powder, blush and any other face products from the day. It removes it almost effortlessly which I couldn't believe when I first tried it! If you are a 'heavy' eye makeup wearer, then you may need one cotton pad of the water per eye, to make life less messy and just generally easier for you. If this seems like too much of a faff, you could always use a separate product altogether!

Overall, I really would recommend this product to anybody thinking of trying it out, or for anyone that is on the market for a new makeup remover!

What is your favourite makeup remover? and have you tried any micellar waters before?!

Take Care!

- Katie x

The Glasses Life // BeautieCollected

I'm the worst for not wearing my glasses. I always go get my eyes tested, new prescription, new frames and I even splash out on some glasses cleaner! But I'm the first person to complain that they irritate me or that my hurt more than they help. The second point isn't strictly true, but it's an excuse that makes me feel better!!

Another struggle whenever I do wear my glasses is makeup that flatters them. It is so hard to find makeup looks that are still seen behind the glasses! This obviously depends on the frames you have, and sometimes if you have coloured frames you can get away with adding a pop of colour to match!

If any of you are wondering, these glasses are by Tommy Hilfiger.

You can definitely expect a post in the future all about glasses and makeup, and the best ways to rock your favourite look and still be able to show it off!

If you have any tips or tricks for wearing makeup with glasses let me know in a comment or tweet!!

Take care!

- Katie x

Mini Makeup Haul // BeautieCollected

I thought I'd treat myself to a couple bits and bobs since my mascara is coming to an end...and there was a 3 for 2 offer on! Shhh!

I only bought a couple of things as I find as soon as I have the money to spend, I can never decide what I want to buy! However when I have nothing but a penny, I have a list as long as my arm!

The first item I bought was a Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick in Shade 08. I absolutely love the Kate Moss lipsticks, the way it applies and lasts is amazing and they aren't sticky either! This shade is the perfect summer to autumn transition colour, but it's also a nudey-pink colour, so it's perfect for everyday wear!

Like I said at the start, my mascara was on it's last legs and I'm pretty sure I've gotten about all I can get from it! So I decided to just get a quick replacement whilst I find one I want to spent more money on! This is the Rimmel Volume Flash X10 Mascara. The brush is very spaced out which will help to coat all the lashes, and the product doesn't have a nasty fragrance! I will let you know how it goes!

Finally, I picked up this Rimmel Soft Kohl Eyeliner in Jet Black. I like smudging a kohl liner along my top lashline for a softer look, rather than straight up liquid liner, as I feel it can look a bit too harsh on me!

Are there any affordable lipsticks, mascaras or eyeliners you'd recommend? Let me know in a comment or tweet!

Take care!

- Katie x

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