My Office Emergency Makeup Bag...

Little essentials to have handy, to avoid panic!

One of the differences between men and women? Beside a briefcase if they have one, men leave home with only their keys and cell phones in the morning while women, many anyway, will want to carry around their entire makeup collection and pharmacy essentials.

There was a time when I had no other choice than to do this. Working as a makeup artist and having to go to different venues or stores all the time, I had to be ready for almost anything. Then when I had to travel, my bag had to be light and so everything in it had to have a purpose. I learned early on to travel light.

We all know that mornings can get crazy! I've never forgotten to put on mascara but lipstick, yes. Weird since I usually carry at least five in my purse. Ibuprofen for that headache, dental floss to get rid of the bits of spinach from the salad I had for lunch and dryer sheets for static cling are some of the things I keep if not with me, in my office drawer. For makeup, promotional sized and drugstore brands are perfect for this. There's no way I'll leave my Givenchy compact at the office!

These days when I see women with huge purses filled to capacity it makes me smile. They could make their lives so much simpler if they were a little more organised. Now do know that I'm not the most practical person and at the moment my house is total chaos but handbag and office drawer have to be top notch!

The makeup bag I chose came with an Estée Lauder Gift With Purchase. 

Not the prettiest, I did think about buying one but then figured it would do fine. 

What's in my emergency bag?

Ever been stuck at the office with a broken nail and nothing to smooth out the edges? Or wearing new shoes and in desperate need of one or several bandages? I have and it ain't fun having to run (unless feet hurt) to the drugstore for stuff you know you have plenty of at home. Even if you only have a tiny space to call your own at work there is a way to keep a few essentials that you may never have any need for but if you do, well, you'll be thankful, believe me!

Biotherm hair brush (seen folded, I've had this for ages), Twinings tea bags (Chai, Darjeeling and hidden under is my favorite Blackcurrent), 2 dryer sheets in a little ziplock (to fight static on clothes and the fragrance will not get annoying given they're sealed in their own plastic bag), a couple of bandages, TBS Honeymania lip balm, Estée Lauder sample double whammy concealer and Sumptuous mascara, Avon's Mark double sided glosses, Crabtree & Evelyn Aromatherapy stick, a small deodorant, compact mirror with a magnifying side, samples of Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire and Dior J'adore, Bourjois blush in Rose Ambré, Rimmel lipstick Kate in 08, Dental floss and a pair of tweezers.

Already at work, small size of Caudalie Huile Divine, Vichy hand cream, nail file and Advil.

The dryer sheet bit is something I learned years ago. I can't remember if it was someone who told me about this or if I read it somewhere but in winter it can be more than useful. If like me you like wearing light fabrics you know what static cling can do. By gently rubbing a dryer sheet on your garment it will help neutralize it! Much better and more convenient than those cans of Static Guard they used to sell. I don't even know if that stuff is still available. These I've used today in fact. The colder it gets outside, the more static cling you get indoors, especially due to nylon coats.

Crabtree & Evelyn Aromathology Pulse Point Balm is also another item I've had for years and sadly I don't think it's still available. It's an oil with a pepperminty smell that you apply to pulse points for relaxation. Soothing when you smell it, it helps with headaches but more importantly it helps me calm down if I get in a bad place. Dealing with people can sometimes be quite aggravating and this has been a godsend in the past.

I have reviewed Caudalie Huile Divine last summer and what I thought would happen indeed did! It's perfect to help tame the static I get in my hair from my coat and scarf. One spray, I rub my hands together and run my fingers through the length of my hair. No more static cling and fresh smelly hair. I rub the top of my hands with what's left. Perfect!

Everything fits and I still have room to spare!

I don't know about you but me I hate having to ask others for anything and I'm one of those people who likes to be ready for any situation or in this case, little emergencies.

The only thing that's missing is a little kit of thread with a needle. For some reason I can't find the one I had so it's on my list. You never know when a button will pop!

Do you have a little emergency bag/kit?

Bronzers! Instead of Burning, Fake It!

I don't think it's a secret to anyone any more that I love a beautiful compact! I'm also quite addicted to lipsticks, lip balms, any product that will make lips feel comfortable and pretty and so I always have more than a few lip product in my purse but I've realised recently that as much as I love a beautiful lipstick, I haven't indulged in them in the past few months as much as I have for compacts.

My main compact addiction recently has been for bronzers!

I am pale, very pale and except for running errands or cleaning the yard, I don't spend a lot of time outdoors unless it's in the shade. In recent years I've developed a bit of redness on my cheeks and if I could I'd probably have that fixed but I'm not that bothered by it. I've figured out a way to tone it down with...

Bronzers!

Staying in the shade, wearing a good sunscreen usually means, little summer color. Good since any color is aging skin. For most of my life I have learned to embrace my paleness. To me it wasn't a hard choice since lying in the Sun wasn't an option, it simply made me sick, really! Feverish, queasy almost nauseous is how I felt every time I tried to lie in the Sun. Still to this day when I see people baking it makes me feel uncomfortable. I guess some would say it almost borders a kind of allergy. I was teased a lot about my paleness but now I'm the one laughing for I hardly have any wrinkles!

Embracing my paleness does not mean I don't want a "healthy" sun kissed glow. This is what a bronzer does for me, give me a glow! I loooove my bronzer(s)!

The one that started it all, in 1984, La Terracotta de Guerlain. Almost revolutionary for it's time since in those days, a tan meant vacation. In Summer many would spend their weekends baking in their yards, balconies or in parks and they would start to do this as early as April, as soon as the weather enabled them to sit outside in the Sun. In Winter, if you had a tan you could brag about the time you just spent in Florida or the Caribbeans.

Given all the information out there about the sun, all the warnings and studies about the risks involved with UV rays, it's interesting to see how our culture simply can't let go of tanning.

Today almost every single cosmetic company makes at least one bronzer. It's quite common but back when Terracotta was launched, using a powder to create a tanned effect was quite a novel idea. I remember Clinique had a gel bronzer in their men's line but that was about it. Gels and creams are harder to master but  powders, they are perfect to create the lightest glow, fast!

Here are some bronzers I've reviewed recently...

Just click on the names for full reviews: Clarins, Milani, mark, Rimmel, Guerlain & Dior. 

I haven't reviewed Rouge Bunny Rouge yet which in fact is a blush and not a bronzer but it's a great compliment if your bronzer is matte. It will give it a little dimension. The color I have is Starina and was given to my by my London friend Marilla.

Instead of burning, fake it!

Now, you want to know how to apply your bronzing powder? Here's a little gem from who else, Guerlain! 52 seconds is all it takes!

Speed Make-Up Guerlain

Faking it is one thing but be sure to protect your skin against UV rays. Not only to avoid wrinkles later but mostly for your health! Here is one of my first posts with a list of sunscreen readily available.

Memories, a bit of history & sunscreens

You do not have to read the entire article you can simply skip towards the end for brands. Also it was one of my first entries so there are a few mistakes in it and the formatting is a little weird due to the change of template done since then. I did not change anything because it serves me as a reminder of my firsts steps in writing. :)

Avon Mark Glowdalicious in Prettied Up / Review

This I've purchased when it first came up a few years back. I've rediscovered it this past weekend while I was trying to organize my makeup. So far, I'm not having too much luck with that! Anyways, I'm glad it's still on the market.

I remember when I first received and tried it, being extremely disappointed. So much shimmer! I felt like a disco ball! In fact, I had to wash my face to completely remove what was for me at the time, the glitter!

The mistake I made was wanting to use it as an all over bronzer. If you approach this product as an enhancer/highlighter, it's a whole different thing and it turns out to be a very nice product.

Three shimmering shades that can be used all mixed together or individually.

The brush is hidden under the powder.

If you use the brush that comes with the compact, 

you will notice a lot of falling out. The bristles are too stiff.

I've made some tests yesterday and I must say I'm more than happy to have rediscovered this. It's perfect as a highlighter. Especially the pink outer ring and the whitish middle. I've used a little of the pink on top of my Guerlain Terracotta and it gave me a dewy effect. A touch of the light shade right in the middle close to my eyebrows was enough to illuminate the eyes. For this I used a small soft bristle blush brush. The one that comes with the compact has bristles that are much too stiff to get any kind of soft effect. Maybe if it's gently washed a few times it would soften it but I haven't tried that and don't think I will bother.

Do I recommend Mark Glowdalicious in Prettied Up? Yes!

For the price, $16.00, it's a nice addition as long as you don't use it for an all over look for daytime. I haven't tried it at night but I do believe the shimmer would still be a little too noticeable for that purpose. But hey, that's me!

Prettied Up is the lightest option but it also comes in Shimmied Up and in Amped Up which is darker and may have less glitter.

The compact is quite good looking, it's the same as the Matte-Nificent powder ($10.00) which I've already mentioned in my Beautiful Compacts entry.

Reviews:

MakeupAlley: 3.4 / 5 lippies for 7 reviews and yes, the last one is indeed me. :(

Beauté-test: has no reviews for this product.

Available through Avon.

Beautiful Compacts

As much as I love a nice lipstick a beautiful compact is its essential companion. After all, how can you apply your lip color without a mirror? Doable with sheer shades but as soon as you go for a more pigmented formula you have to see what you're doing otherwise you'll end up looking like my aunt Marie-Louise! A lovely woman bless her heart but, sometimes, her bright red lipstick ended up just below her nose. Not very elegant!

With Christmas just around the corner some of us are struggling with the lack of gift ideas and this is not because there are not enough "gift suggestion lists" out there. They are in fact everywhere at this time of year. Kitchen gadgets for the foodie, "At Home Pedicure Kit" for the beauty geek, teapot or salt & pepper shaker for the collector, hmmm! Been there done that maybe?