The Only Makeup Brush Bag You Will Ever Need!

I love all things beauty - no surprise there!  I am a full time mobile beauty therapist & a part time beauty blogger after all!  And, I also love to be organised, so when I heard about the lovely makeup bags that YouTuber Gracie Saunderson (https://www.youtube.com/user/GracieSaunderson   ) handmade herself, I thought it would be perfect to ad one to my collection!

Now, I do have many a makeup bag (see, organisation!) but I'm lacking in bags for my brushes whenever I go away.  I find that I have to just shove them in with my other makeup & they can end up getting all sorts of products on them! 

So, when the opportunity came for me to purchase a lovely bag from Gracie, I decided to opt for a brush bag.  They all come in different ranges but I opted for the NOIR collection.

The NOIR collection looks very chic & 'high-end' in a black quilted leatherette (very 'Chanel'!) with a lovely bright pink lining.  As well as the brush bag, the range includes a makeup bag & a larger cosmetic bag.

The brush bag is the perfect size to store all my brushes that I need to take away with me, with a generous size of 22.5cm x 12cm.

I must say, not only was I very impressed by the look of the bag when it arrived, but also how well packaged it was!  It came in a bright pink outer packaging & inside it was beautifully wrapped with pink tissue paper, cellophane, a bow & a lovely card thanking me for my order.  

Its the little touches like these that will make you want to order again.

Now for the actual 'road test' of the bag....

I recently visited my parents in Norfolk & dutifully packed my new brush bag.  And it did the job! 

As I have already said, it fitted all my brushes in perfectly, with a good quality zip closing & the fabric held up to my 'foundation covered' fingers - a quick wipe & it was as good as new!  It looks so smart & glamorous!

I am so impressed with this bag, that I may consider the other sizes too! 

Now you've heard what I think, take a look for yourself on the website - www.graciesaunderson.com

Well done Gracie, I love my brush bag! Thank you! 

Bee x  

  

Grab a Perfect Cuppa with Beanies

I've been meaning to do a post on these coffees for a while now.  I didn't need to keep 'testing' them - I knew straight away that I would love them!

The company is called 'Beanies' & these instant coffees are only 2 calories per cup! Perfect. 

I am a self-confessed coffee addict & when some dear friends discovered these coffees (yes, all credit goes to them! Thank you!), they had to buy them for me!

And, I've been adding to the collection ever since.  (There's so many flavours I want to try!)

The flavours I have so far are;

Amaretto Almond (would go great with cake!)

Hazelnut (Perfectly nutty!)

Chocolate (Lovely choccie flavour)

Chocolate Orange (Just like 'Terrys'!)

Cinder Toffee (Just fab!)

Irish Cream (Lovely flavour)

They are all absolutely delicious (I drink them with either Soya Milk or Almond Milk due to my cow's milk intolerance) but I have to say I'm torn between 2 favourites - Amaretto & Cinder Toffee!  Yum!

Beanies started back in 2009 & are constantly creating new flavours; they've even created a coffee with added vitamin D!  

Their website is amazing; full of recipes of how to 'pimp up' your coffee & other fun things.  Their aim, they say, is to 'revolutionise the average coffee & fill the world with flavour' & they are doing a very good job of it!  I've never tried such lovely instant coffee before. 

There is 3 on my list that I definitely want to try next - Cinnamon & Hazelnut,
Coconut Delight
& 
Cookie Dough!

So, who will be kind enough to buy these for me??

Anyone?!

Bee x


PS...As I type this, I've just been sipping on the Hazelnut coffee....delicious! 

  

Skincare I have been loving lately...Olay,The Ordinary & Skin Chemists

....or should I have titled this post, skincare I'm using up?!

No, because I am genuinely loving them! 

First up, Olay Complete Everyday Sunshine...

Now, this is a classic.  I've always been an Olay girl & every summer I reach for their Everyday Sunshine (In fact, I have reviewed this before, here); whether it be to help my existing tan along or to give myself a bit of colour.  I use both shades (light & deep) & I'm currently using their light shade.  

I've been desperately clinging on to the last bit of my tan from my holiday & I've almost finished this tube, so maybe I will embrace the winter paler look or I will purchase another one & continue to be a bit more colourful...who knows?!

Anyway to give you a bit of a lowdown on this product; it's a tinted moisturising cream & I use it every morning (& sometimes evening) before I apply my makeup.  It sinks into my skin well, gives me a lovely glow (it never looks streaky) & smells lovely.  I have never had a breakout with this either, which is a plus! 

Oh & it is SPF15 too! 

It is such a great product & works so well, that I will continue to purchase this for many years yet!

Onto another moisturiser I have been enjoying...

This brand seems to be getting quite a cult following; it has simple packaging & the price point is amazing too.  It is of course, The Ordinary. 

I have their Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA cream.  And it definitely does what it says - it is a 'surface hydration formula'.

I have combination skin, so I wasn't sure if it would suit my skin, but I'm pleased to say, since using this on a regular basis (mainly in the evening) it hasn't effected my skin at all.  It's not greasy & just provides the moisture that my skin needs.

I will say it's not the most amazing moisturiser I've ever used but it's basic & does the job!

It's also great to know that The Ordinary are vegan & cruelty free.  

And the price of this product?  It's £4.90.  Bargain!

My final product is a serum.  I'm really starting to love serums these days.  As I get older, I'm really becoming more aware of my skin & taking care of it.  As part of my day job, I advise my clients about the best skincare & how to look after your skin all the time, but its only been in the last few years that I've properly taking care of mine - I wish I could tell my younger self about the dangers of putting your face in the sun without sun protection for example!

Anyway, enough of that, now that I am more aware, I'm doing my best to hold onto what I've got!

So, onto the serum...

It's by Skin Chemists London & it is their 24hour Aqua Repair Facial Serum.  And let me tell you...it is fabulous!

As soon as you press it into your skin, it sinks in & feels wonderful.  It has definitely helped with the texture of my skin & feels like such a lovely base along with one of my moisturisers before applying my makeup.

And you only need a tiny bit, so it will last you ages.  It smells lovely & fresh too!

So, there you have it; the skincare bits I've been loving lately....

Over to you! What  are your faves?  I'd love to know!

Bee x