Blogtober #5 | Travel Log: Prague

For something different for Day 5 of #Blogtober, I thought I would highlight one of my favourite cities that I have ever visited... Prague! Below I have chronicled my trip in photographs. It is such a pretty place and everything is so reasonably priced. I would definitely recommend this city to everyone (although for anyone who struggles with getting around, beware there is quite a lot of hills). Once you get into the city, you don't even really need to use public transport, most of the main attractions are within walking distance. Which of course is great if you have a limited amount of time or are only on a city break!

Everything is so quaint and the architecture is beautiful, so without too much more rambling, here are some pictures from my time there...

The stalls around the place sold some great quirky items...

And if you're a fan of beer, there are definitely some interesting ones to try in the Czech Republic...

Have you ever visited Prague?
What is your favourite city for a weekend break?

Blogtober #4 | What's in my bag?

For this post I thought I would share what I keep in my every day handbag. For when I'm heading to work or out shopping, etc. I used to always carry around really big handbags, but in more recent years I've returned to the smaller bag. I've learned I wasn't using half the stuff I was lugging around anyway.

I found this mini satchel in New Look for a very reasonable price (under €20) and it has served me well. I have it 6 months at least and I've had no issues to date. Now more importantly onto the contents, as the bag itself is quite small, I've gotten my handbag essentials down to the minimum.

Starting from the bottom working to the top we have:
- Samsung Galaxy SII (yes I am badly in need of an upgrade)
- Keys
- Brushes, which are all Real Techniques (Blush, Buffer & Contour brushers)
- Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum (#51)
- Collection Concealer (#2)
- Bourjois Shine Edition Lipstick (#24)
- MAC Lustre Lipstick (Lustering)
- NARS Palette (The Happening)
- Silver Make Up Bag (part of a gift, so unsure where it came from)
- Calvin Klein Purse (which I picked up while holidaying in Orlando)


I hope you enjoyed having a nose at what's in my purse.
What are some of your handbag essentials?

Blogtober #3 | Review: Maybelline Cream Gel Eye Shadow

On to day 3 of #Blogtober already, this post is a review of Maybelline's Colour Tattoo 24hr Creme Gel Eyeshadows.

On and on Bronze, Pink Gold, Permanent Taupe

Immortal Charcoal, Timeless Black

There are some brighter shades available in this range, however I chose the most neutral, wearable colours available. Spoiler alert: these shadows are amazing! I would recommend them to anyone and everyone. They rival MAC's paint pots or Make Up For Ever's Aqua Shadows. They go on quite wet, you can buff them in with a fluffy brush (I recommend a MAC 217 brush) and hey presto they dry quite fast. You are then set for the day as they don't budge.

The best part is you can wear them as your eye shadow or you can wear them as a base for any of your other shadows. I especially think you can really buff the On and on Bronze or Pink Gold in and they are the perfect base for any colour shadow on top.

You can pick these up in any Drugstore/Pharmacy, they retail at approximately €7.50 each. Which is an absolute bargain when you consider how much the MAC/Make Up For Ever equivalent go for.

Have you tried any of these Colour Tattoo Eye Shadows from Maybelline?
What are your favourite cream eye shadows?

Blogtober #2 | Seasonal Wear: Scarves

Here is blog post #2 from this month's #blogtober challenge. Make sure to follow me on Facebook & Twitter so you can keep up with all my new posts!

One of my favourite things about Autumn is you can officially go back to wearing scarves every day. I don't have a huge scarf collection, but below I have included my current favourites. None of them are particularly expensive, they are from high street stores such as Vero Moda, Dunnes Stores, Bershka, Asos and the likes.

As you will see I have mostly neutral colours as not only are scarves practical, but they're great for adding a little something to a look. So with the more neutral colours, I find they go with more outfits. Consequently I have chosen to exclude any any of my black scarves, since I feel we can all do black with very little encouragement. In the Autumn/Winter I know we are all drawn to wearing darker colours, so scarves are a great way to bring a little brightness back into your look.

 

These three are my practical woolen scarves that offer proper warmth, especially the first one. It's so thick and long, it needs to be essentially snowing for me to wrap this one tightly around my neck. I love the scrunchy nature of the second one, it sits nicely around the neck. Finally the last one is to add a splash of colour to my look!

  

These two are somewhere in the realm of practical, but I feel they really complete any outfit in your Autumn collection. The essentially go with everything, the colours are basic, but their classics. These are the types of scarves that are a staple to any Autumn wardrobe.

 

These last scarves are definitely more the case of fashion of function. They will of course keep the wind off your neck, but their purpose is more as an accessory than warmth. I treat this style of scarf like more of a necklace. The type of scarf you leave on even when you get indoors. I hope this has inspired some of you for your Autumn/Winter looks.


What are some of your favourite types of scarves?
What is your absolute Autumn wardrobe staple?

Blogtober #1 | September Favourites

This is the first official post in Blogtober! I aim to do a blog each day for the whole month, so stay tuned!

I can't believe September is over already, Autumn is really upon us and we're seeing the last of the sunshine! This month I have not been wearing quite as much make up. I have been trying to give my skin a bit of a break. So with that, lets get straight into this month's favourites!

There has been one lipstick that has barely left my side and that's the Bourjois Shine Edition (shade #24). Not only is it in my favourite colour, the pigmentation is beautiful and it feels so moisturising on the lips, which is perfect for this time of year. It comes out a little darker on the lips than is shown here, but it eliminates the need for a gloss.

Another handbag essential this month has been yet another Bourjois product, their Healthy Mix Serum foundation (shade 51). I mentioned this in a blog about a light summer foundation. It is a low coverage and excellent for everyday wear (especially when you have dry skin like me). It only takes some bronzer, blush and lipstick to instantly turn a day look into night. It gives you that you-at-your-best look without looking too much like you are wearing foundation.

Another favourite this month has been a nail varnish. During the week I like to wear nail varnish, while making it seem like I'm not wearing any (due to working in an office, I can't wander around in all the bright colours I love). As a result I have been loving this shade (threadbare) from Topshop. It's neutral enough not to draw any attention, but I still get to wear polish midweek!

I have recently acquired yet another Real Techniques brush, this is their Blush brush. I just love the shape, size and feel of this brush. I can't see me going back to any other brush I've previously used for blusher. Real Techniques have converted me (yet again)!

So what have you been loving for the month of September?

*COMPETITION* - Win a Ted Baker Make Up Bag full of Goodies!

This competition is open for the month of September! To be in with a chance of winning everything you see (worth over €70), please like Beauty Baggage on Facebook (and share the competition photo) and follow Beauty Baggage on Twitter (and re-tweet the competition photo). 

At the end of the month a winner will be chosen at random from all the shares and retweets (the more you share, the more chances you have of winning).

What you could win:
- Ted Baker makeup bag
- Barry M Gelly Nail Polish
- Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder
- Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick by Kate Moss
- Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer
- Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Eye Liner
- Maybelline Colour Tattoo 24hr
- Derma Hand & Nail Cream
- Sure Deodorant
- Nivea Lip Balm
- V05 Ultimate Hold Hair Spray
- V05 Tame & Shine Heat Defense Spray


BeautyBaggage Facebook: facebook.com/BeautyBaggage
BeautyBaggage Twitter: twitter.com/BeautyBaggage

Get entering now!

August Favourites

It's that time of the month again where I recap on some of my favourite items from the last month.

As you can see from the Clarins cleanser it's almost gone, that definitely got a lot of use this month. It just has the most amazing smell of oranges, incredibly refreshing and leaves my skin feeling so soft, you can also use it on the eyes, so saves multiple product purchases. My Aussie leave-in conditioner is almost at the point of re-purchase and I've hit pan with my Bobbi Brown pressed powder. As I went to electric picnic last week, I definitely got great use out of Soap & Glory's hand sanitiser. The Collection concealer was also great for the summer (and Electric Picnic) for when I didn't want to have to go for the full make up look and avoid foundation altogether, it was perfect for under the eyes, red areas and blemishes. 

This month I have been loving two products from Make Up For Ever, their Face & Body foundation, as I have dry skin and their lip brush. I find the foundation has a very natural finish. Also as I have been wearing a lot of bold lips lately, the lip brush is perfect for controlling the amount of my product that goes onto my lip. On top of that, it folds into itself and is perfect for travelling!

Products Included

Clarins - One-Step Facial Cleanser with Orange Extract

Collection - Last Perfection Concealer (2 Light)

Soap & Glory - Hand Maid Hand Cleansing Gel 

Bobbi Brown - Sheer Finish Pressed Powder (Pale Yellow)

Make Up For Ever - Face & Body Foundation (#20)

Make Up For Ever - Lip Brush

Aussie - Leave-In Conditioner (Miracle Hair Insurance)

Do you use any of these products?

What did you love during the month of August?