A little look inside my handbag and some of the best bits I couldn’t live without.
Some beauty products I’ve been using for years, some are new finds I’m obsessed with, but all are my daily ‘go to’ products that I love to carry around. I’m a ‘just in case’ kind of girl!!
So aside from the five year old receipts, Tampax and the odd toy car, here’s the best bits of ‘What’s in my bag’.
I bought these sunglasses from Cutler and Gross a few years ago so I’d class them as my old faithfulls. A classic example of getting what you pay for as they look as good as the day I bought them. I kind of wish I’d bought the tortoise shell version as I think that’s a little more flattering against your skin.
My lovely rose gold and grey watch, actually the colour inspiration for our branding at Lara Quin, came from a brand I discovered when I first joined Instagram. Made in Sydney, Christian Paul Watches have such a lovely aesthetic I found it hard which choosing, but in the end went for the softer tones that tend to go with everything.
The best hairbrush you might never have heard of! I first tried a Mason Pearson hairbrush when I ‘borrowed’ it from my Granny when I was about 10 years old:) It never went back, sorry Granny:/ They make THE best hairbrushes I’ve ever found! I don’t know what it is they do, or even how they do it, but no matter what the state of my hair they always seem to make it look shiny? And fresh, and like I’ve just has a blow dry? Magic! I’m not an ambassador for them by the way, but I should be!!!
Lovely earrings from The Collective Boutique
I don’t wear an awful lot of make-up as you’ve probably gathered on our Instagram page. Going out at night I sometimes wear foundation, but to be honest even then it’s only a light covering of Mac face and body. I hate the feeling of being caked in it? Plus if there’s one way to encourage a breakout, it’s piling too much make-up on your skin:/ Less is most definitely more for me when it comes to make-up.
However, there are a few essentials I use everyday just to brighten up my skin and help it look a little fresher.
First, I start with a great eye cream. Just dab it on around your eye for an instant freshen up. I’ve tried loads over the years, the eternal search for the perfect eye cream which will actually reduce puffiness! I’ve been using Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery for about a year now and it seems to do the job where others fail miserably:/ I’m not sure if you’re actually meant to use it in the day but I do!
Then it’s a great facial oil. One because I love that dewy look and two, because my skin is so dry I need that boost every morning. I’m currently using Willowberry Nutrient Boost Treatment oil which is amazing. Just the right amount of moisture without feeling too greasy.
Mac strobe cream makes a great base for daytime make-up. I use a slightly tinted version called Peachlite. It just gives you that healthy ‘dewy’ glow without being too overpowering.
Then I use a little YSL Touche Eclat under my eyes. Try and only use this on the orbital bone to highlight the best bits rather than the worst! I’ve made that mistake too many times. I did try the By Terry version of this last year and aside from it being far more expensive, it was so drying I’ve gone back to Touch Eclat instead.
A little blusher from from Nars, I use the ‘blush’ tone as it’s nice and subtle and just a lick of Mascara from Laura Mercier. I actually don’t believe you need to spend a fortune on Mascara for it to be great, I interchange this one with Maybelline Great Lash too.
And then to finish I use Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream. My magic cream. Every self respecting make-up artist always had this in their kit in my modelling days and with good reason. It’s incredible stuff. I use it as a lipgloss, eyebrow tamer, super dewy look i’ll dab a little on my eyelids and a little press on my cheekbones.
The odd burn or two it’s incredible for helping to heal, and when my skin is having a crazy dry moment I’ll smother it all over my face at night and sleep in it!
I can’t do small handbags. Not with all these essentials I have a tendency to carry around with me! I got this one recently from The Foundary Design and it’s my new favourite. Big enough to fit everything in, yet not so big it takes over your entire body:/ Beautiful soft leather and of course I can’t resist a tassel or two:)
I tend to carry a lot of accessories around with me. I think if you’re working and then end up popping out for a drink, you can instantly dress up an outfit just by adding a few bracelets and necklaces so I always have a few options to hand. A few that have been on my travels recently are a couple of bits I got from Aussie brand Isle and Tribe, I love their collections and they are so reasonably priced too.
TLM Edit kindly sent me a few pieces which I love stacking together. Layered necklaces and pretty bracelets and a gorgeous clutch I need to show you. I’m a big fan of bohemian style jewellery and they do some great pieces with this edge.
And Gift Pop Boutique which you may have heard me mention on my page who sent me that gorgeous giant yellow beach bag:)) Love love love. I have a couple of pairs of their earrings, little pops of colour that just dress up whatever I’m wearing.
Now my friend thought this was a little odd, but I use Piz Buin suncream as a daily moisturiser. Mainly I’ll admit because I love the smell, but if I’m also totally sunproffed that can only be a good thing right? So I carry it around with me and use it a couple of times a day just to freshen up my skin and I love the slightly coconut smell.
And last but not least, I can just about squeeze into my handbag, perfume. I’m a creature of habit on this one. I use Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir in the Winter and Diptyque Philosykos in the Summer. I’m obsessed with the scent of fig, and it reminds me of freshly cut grass in the sunshine.
I hope you like all my favourite essentials and as always I would love to know what you think? Let me know any Summer beauty products you can’t live without and ones that I should definitely try:)
Thanks for reading:)
See you over on Insta
Jess
x
