What's in my makeup bag?

So, until rather recently, I didn't carry a makeup bag around with me. I don't really tend to do touch-ups during the day as I always feel weird doing my makeup if it's either in front of others or in a public restroom or both. I just don't really want to spend more time than necessary in most bathrooms. I also have been dying to pee in a queue for the loos enough times to find it morally objectionable to add to the traffic in a bathroom. (What do women do in restrooms? Why are the lines always so long?)

*end mini rant*

But, as anyone who carries bags on the reg knows, it's always a pain to swap things to a new bag. It's also annoying to be unable to find anything you need in your bag. I normally only need my lip balm, perfume, blotting paper, compact mirror and sun cream during the day and decided to put them into a pouch to make them easier to find. Then I added in my other major essentials so I'm good to go if I end up crashing somewhere, some disaster befalls the makeup on my face and I feel the need to redo it all instead of just washing it off for some reason and to simply keep the stuff I use most together.

These essentials include my Dream Pure BB and Baby Lips in Peach Kiss from Maybelline,  17's Superlash mascara and eyeliner, Primark's Volume Boost mascara, Benefit's The Porefessional primer, TONYMOLY's Bunny Gloss Bar in Cherry, Topshop's Gloss Lipgloss in Long Time No See, Clinique's Eyeliner in Brown Sugar, a sample of Chloe (because it's easier than carrying the bottle), Dr Bronner Organic Lip Balm in Peppermint, L'Occitane's Cherry Blossom solid perfume, Catrice's Blotting paper, my compact which is from the Crawford Art Gallery in Cork with an image from Harry Clarke's Eve of St Agnes and my Nivea Sun Kids Pocket Size sunscreen SPF 50. The bag is from Lulu Guinness and I use it as a makeup bag and clutch intermittently. I do think it's too gorgeous to be forever given the supporting role of makeup bag, non?

What's key in your makeup bag? Anyone interested in me doing a post on my daily makeup routine, comment below!

(Everything I've talked about has been linked where possible and something similar in some cases)

Brand Focus: Forever 21 Beauty

I'd been noticing how cute the beauty accessories in Forever 21 are for a while now - from makeup cases to brushes, all in super-adorable prints and colours.

And then I noticed that in America, it gets better. Sadly, we're missing out. The US site shows that you can get makeup, skincare, shower gels and body mists. They also happen to be super-affordable and I've spotted some products that are dead ringers for other, more expensive ones. The Sheer Lip Color looks just like Tony Moly's gloss bars and the mascara looks like Tony Moly's Cats Wink. The Mega Shine Lip Gloss reminds me of Hourglass' lip glosses for a fraction of the price...and I have to wonder if the formula is the same too?

Bring the full line to Europe!

PLZ.

What about you guys? Wish these were sold in Europe too?

Luv from Luvocracy xoxo

So, I've mentioned Luvocracy briefly before - it's a unique online shopping platform that lets you organise your lust haves and share the things you're feeling (kinda like Pinterest or Polyvore) as well as shop online. And best of all, they find you the best prices online!

My latest Luvocracy Collection, "Spring Essentials", has been getting a lot of love. No surprises there, I've got great taste. But above is just a sample of what you'll find on there. 

I got a sample of Roses de Chloe a while back and it's the perfect flowery, delicate scent for Spring - definitely my fragrance pick for the season! The collection will make my obsession with Topshop nail polishes apparent and I've chosen my favourite colours as well as an iPhone case inspired by the bottle. SO CUTE. TanOrganic's Oil Arganic is THE BOMB. I recommend for keeping your skin and hair perfect for sun and sea. I'm still obsessed with Tony Moly's Bunny Balm Bars and want every flavour. EVER. The collection is home to my other beauty and skincare picks as well as the clothes I'm digging. Comfy pastels that are easy to style are so the way forward!

Luvocracy and I have teamed up to offer you the opportunity to win $15 Credit to shop their site (which can be paired with the $10 credit to use on purchases of $20 or more that you'll be given when you sign up)!

Here's what you'll need to do:

1. Sign up for Luvocracy but make sure to do so through the link to my collection: http://www.luvocracy.com/Wide-eyedandblind/collections/spring-essentials  (This is the essential part - you must make an account through this link in order to be entered into the draw!)

2. Sure, go ahead and find my account at http://www.luvocracy.com/Wide-eyedandblind/collections while you're at it and Trust me!

3. Follow me here on blogger and like the facebook page if you haven't already!

4. Share the competition if you feel so inclined!

Good luck xxx

*Giveaway ends Mon, March 24. Winners will be chosen at random by Luvocracy and notified via email on Tuesday, April 1 Giveaway rules. Non-US residents are now eligible (I made sure for you guys) but you must be 18 and a new Luvocracy member.*

Skincare Spree Super Fun Day.

Okay, not with the "super fun" but it can be rather relaxing to take a day and pamper your skin. My day to day routine is fairly minimal but every now and then I have a proper go at it. Here's a run down of how I do a pamper day.

I use nose strips from time to time and have done so since I was a teen. Generally, I notice a rather minimal difference afterwards. However, this Greentea Nose Pack from Etude House (one of my recent KollectionK purchases) actually offers real results. No, there aren't any miracles happening here but (and excuse the grossness of this next bit) but blackheads were visible on the strip afterwards and the skin was soft to the touch. As results go for this kind of product, it wasn't a bad one.

At this point I use a Lush Tea Tree Toner Tab. The tab is placed in a bowl of hot water and then you lean over the steam for 15-20 minutes with a towel over the head. I then pat my face dry gently with a towel.

Next I do a general cleanse with my VOYA Cleanse and Mend cleanser. I use about two pumps, put on the back of my hand and then massaged into the face with my fingertips. Then I rinse off the cleanser with some water and pat my face dry with a towel.

Now, I use the water from the Toner Tab earlier as a more conventional toner. This is applied over the face with a cotton pad.

Once the toner has dried I use my VOYA Softly Does It body moisturiser. Again, about two pumps on the back of my hand is enough and then massaged into the face - especially the driest areas such as my nose and jawline. Though this is a body mousturiser, it is organic and gentle and most VOYA products are multi-use, so I double it up on body AND face. 

Then I go in with the VOYA My Little Hero serum on top of this. One pump is enough!

Lastly, as I put on some Buffy in the background and settle on my bed with the lights off, I use Tony Moly's Panda Dream Eye Patch - again from KollectionK.

I also throw on a coat of Dr Bronner's Organic Lip Balm in Peppermint.

So, there you go. That's how my skincare regime looks if I'm being a real girl for once. Day-to-day, it's pretty minimal but with a lot of the same products. I usually just cleanse and moisturise but I use sun cream pretty much every day (need to get stricter on that one) and lip balm. I'm currently in the market for an organic toner, any suggestions? Let me know!

I'll probably cover my shower routine as that includes haircare at some stage but that's all for now folks. xxx