#5 WHAT'S IN MY MAKE-UP BAG?

Ellie Morson shares what's in her make-up bag:

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation - £36.00

This is definitely my most expensive item in my makeup bag and retails at a staggering £36.00. I’d never normally spend this on a foundation, however I’d heard great things about this product and as ASOS stocks the Nars line, I took one of their 25% student discount opportunities as a chance to try this out. I have combination skin and find this is really good at keeping the dryer areas of my face looking hydrated, whilst keeping my more oily prone areas in check too. I wouldn’t personally say it’s sheer; rather it has quite a strong coverage. I also don’t think it’s particularly ‘glowy’ (that I’ve noticed anyway), but rather it seems to have a semi-matte finish, which I like. Other plus points include its longevity – I don’t feel the need to touch up during the day and it also photographs nicely. Considering the price though, I don’t think I’ll repurchase once it’s gone.

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer - £4.19

This concealer is an absolute steal at £4.19. I do tend to suffer from under eye circles and this is amazing at covering those up. This is really creamy and not too thick for the under eye are, just blend out a couple of dots and you’re good to go. Both the quality and price make this an absolute must-have.

Mac Eyeshadow in Brun - £9.00

Mac’s Brun eyeshadow is a dark muted brown and I lightly use a small angled brush to run this through my eyebrows. It just helps to give them a little bit more shape and definition and to help them match my hair colour a little better.

Clinique Brush-On Cream Liner - £14.00

If ever I had a must have product, it’s probably this one. I’m constantly repurchasing/ claiming my trusty boots advantage points on this Clinique eyeliner, despite the fact that that one little pot lasts me ages.  I used to use liquid eyeliner all the time a few years ago but after having become used to gel eyeliner, I don’t think I could go back. This has all the appearance of a liquid eyeliner and none of the mess, not to mention it’s a lot easier to avoid mistakes. It’s extremely pigmented and leaves a nice, smooth and dark line which lasts throughout the entire day. You could go all fancy and buy an eyeliner brush, however I just use a small synthetic craft brush with it and it does the job just as well.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero - £14.00

For my lower lash line, I’ll just use a slick of this. It goes on easily, without tugging, whilst still remaining incredibly black and lasting throughout the entire day. Not to mention that I can’t remember when I first purchased this, only that it was a long, long time ago now and that it has lasted ages and still has a lot of life left in it yet.

Maybelline Colossal Mascara - Volum' Express - £7.19

I’m a huge lover of most of the Maybelline mascaras and I think I bought this one on a whim when I saw that it was on offer one day. Like many of the other Maybelline mascaras, it doesn’t fail to disappoint. I’ve found Colossal Volume Express to be more defining than some of their other mascaras, however it still offers really good volume, giving nice thick, yet separated lashes for the day.

Mac Lipstick in Cherish and Patisserie - £14.00

In terms of lipsticks, I have two that I pretty much alternate between on an everyday basis-  Mac’s Patisserie and Cherish. Both feel comfortable on the lips, with neither of them feeling sticky. They also last a fair amount of time compared with others I’ve tried in the past. Cherish is really nice natural nude colour, airing more on the peachy/brown side of the nudes. Meanwhile, Patisserie is more of a rose/brown nude and is slightly glossier compared with Cherish.  I adore both and they’re nice to vary between on a day to day basis.

Mac Powder Blush in Harmony – £17.50

Though not an everyday product, I do reach for Mac’s Harmony a lot. I love this product, simply because of its versatility. It’s a soft rose brown ‘blush’ from Mac, without any of the more orange tones. I have mega pale skin so a warmer/ more orange based brown can sometimes cause me to look a little tangoed. However, this is a nice neutral brown shade which I tend to use either as a blush/ bronzer for a hint of a tan on more summery days and for going out. However, this also doubly serves as a really good contouring shade, allowing me to enhance cheekbones and get rid of any sneaky dub-chin action that I tend to get. Much love for this product.

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Translucent - £3.99

Finally, I could not live without Rimmel’s Stay Matte powder. As I mentioned, I have combination skin and whilst my cheeks can tend to be dry, my t-zone always gets oily. This does a fab job of masking that oil. I only use this across my forehead and nose, but it does well at keeping the shine at bay. I’m not a massive fan of the packaging, (I don’t always feel that the lid’s secure). However, for the price and product itself, you can’t go wrong. It’s also a nice size for on the go touch ups, which is always a plus.

#4 WHAT'S IN MY MAKE-UP BAG?

Freelance writer and second year student Eleanor Doughty shows us what's in her Make-Up bag: 

Now then, excuse me for being that girl, but I have a confession to make.  I like my makeup simple.  Preferring to stick to sixties doe eyes and an insouciant natural skin tone, my daily routine is less than arduous. 

Both fortunately and unfortunately, my job has enabled me to try such a great array of new products that I scarcely have room for them.  Beauty sales have happened in my bedroom, no kidding.  If you see me in my two most regular (sigh) E1 hangouts, the library and the gym, this post won't make so much sense; I am usually almost makeup free.  Suffice to say, I don't really look like a fashion and beauty journalist a lot of the time, whatever we’re supposed to look like.

Despite my makeup bag overflowing to the point where I actually had to buy a cabinet for everything, I'm pretty laid back about it.  I enjoy getting dressed and ahem, beautified far too much to want to do it every day.  Only when I am in the office full time - now a growing commonality - do I deign to spend the necessary time sixties-fying myself.

Diorskin Nude BB Crème (£30)

Shockingly, I don't wear foundation and never have- occupationally, this has proven tricky when trialing products and working on features.  Upon the arrival of Dior's BB cream in the courier post some months ago, I felt dishonourable to my standard routine, as it became a soft staple to my morning routine.  Designed to provide a soft, blemish-free backdrop to the skin, Dior's rosy cream is the most delicate I am yet to road test.  In my sampling wisdom of late, that is high praise.  It isn't so perfect for your purse, clocking in at £30, but for the amount you need to use in the morning, it's more than an investment piece.

www.dior.com

Bare Minerals powder blush (£19) / Chanel blush (£31)

I was lucky enough to be given a complementary session at the wonderful Bare Minerals boutique in Covent Garden for this addition to my makeup bag/drawer/life.  As all my individual products were chosen precisely for my skin tone, I completely hit the jackpot with Bare Minerals' divine powder blush.  You only need use the tiniest amount as the powder is incredible dense, but that makes it the most valuable possession.  I switch between Chanel's actually-smells-like-roses blush Joues Contraste too as this is probably the most incredible piece of makeup that I own, but I use it very sparingly so as to only enable its goodness for the very special occasions.

www.bareminerals.co.uk

www.chanel.com

Estee Lauder Two Tone mascara (£25)

Another press trial and another all-too-regular makeup bag staple comes from the team at Estee Lauder.  Introducing, Two Tone Eye Opening Mascara.  Bit of a mouthful, but so worth it.  On first impressions it appears gaudy, a little overdressed in its entire golden splendor, and a little heavy.  With two ends, a brown wand for the bottom lashes and a deep black for the top, the famous EL, as it has been known in our flat, is perfect for recreations of Twiggy's wide-eyes.  And on a makeup day, that's always me.  You know when you've met the one, and this is mine.

www.esteelauder.co.uk

Sephora Rouge Cream Mr. Lover lipstick ($12)

Some like it hot, some like it red…I like it pink.  Lipstick, that is.  I have been on the pursuit of the perfect pink lipstick for longer than I care to remember.  I have requested pink trios of lipstick from every brand I can find, been gifted packages of many, many that just weren't quite right.  Chanel sent some, Bare Minerals sent some, even Dior.  Dior's Swan comes almost perfectly close to a day-night perfect pink, but I am a little more swayed by Sephora's Mr Lover.  I admit it's not the pink I have been daily-searching for, but hot pink is a happy substitute.  Even if the name alone takes your fancy, it comes with Shard-high recommendations.  Of many of the lipsticks I have tried and failed at using, Sephora's Rouge Cream has most consistently delighted.  It doesn't fade, smear or wear off- it's never out of place and the colour fixes all day.  Okay so a little comes off on a wine glass here and there, but we're all winning in that scenario.  Disappointingly, Sephora still don't ship to the UK which is the biggest nuisance, but happily various European/North American dwelling friends are only too willing to post packages home to London in cases of extreme Sephora-itis.  I am only too inclined to buy Sephora makeup, that's how good it is.

www.sephora.com

Enter Pronoun Blacknailed eyeliner $28

Bizarrely, visiting Enter Pronoun's website brings up a header describing 'a unisex makeup collection'.  This hasn't stopped me from using their divine Blacknailed eyeliner every single day since it popped through into my in-tray during the summer.  The blackest black felt tip pen is the easiest eyeliner I have had the pleasure of using, even trumping my long-term BFF, Sephora's Long-Lasting 12HR Wear to the top spot.  Enter Pronoun's silver-packaged simple liner has never let me down, even in moments of flash flood, knee-jerk emotions or puddle-splashed-in-face-on-Curtain-Road (yup, that definitely happened), I have not been left resembling a panda.  And it's not even specifically waterproof, which I figure is even better.  Coming in at $28, it's not the cheapest eyeliner you'll ever use, but it might just be the best.

www.enterpronoun.com

#3 WHAT'S IN MY MAKE UP BAG?

Final year student Rachel Clarkson shares what's in her Make-Up bag:

MAC Prep + Prime- skin base visage

Well, first things first- a good primer is essential for the kind of nights out where you run the risk of your entire face of makeup melting off. I use MAC prep + prime which creates a velvety soft canvas and works like a magnet, securing everything in place. MAC doesn’t come cheap (£19.50 for this one) but since it’s not for everyday, it has lasted for months so I won’t feel too guilty when it eventually needs replacing!

Max Factor Colour Adapt Foundation

I’ve been using this foundation for years, I love its perfectly matte and even tone, it’s really easy to blend in and covers any blemishes well- a pea sized amount normally does the trick and it lasts all day.

Look Beauty, Holiday Glow

Since moving back to the UK with its bleak summer forecasts, I’m still grieving for the olive Mediterranean glow I used to have. So, as a healthier, British alternative I opted for a cheap bronzer to add a bit of colour and contour. I used to use Tan de Soleil by Chanel but the £28 price tag felt a little excessive- this Look Beauty alternative at £5 is much more purse friendly and does the job well.

Benefit, High Beam Highlighter

This Benefit highlighter is a pretty popular alternative to the touche éclat pen which started the craze. It brushes straight onto the skin- I use a dab atop my cheekbones, some beneath my brow and then just a fine sweep down the centre of my nose and a spot in my cupid’s bow (all magic techniques sourced from meticulous magazine research). Then just blend in and you’ll dazzle ’em.

Estee Lauder, Tender Blush in Peach Nuance

I tend to apply blusher after highlighter to avoid the risk of smudging and distorting the powder. This Estee Lauder blusher goes on beautifully and the colour options provide a natural, 3-dimensional peachy glow.

Yves Saint Laurent, Eyeshadow Duo in #13

I bought this YSL eyeshadow duo about four years ago in a pharmacy in Malta. I needed cashback so I grabbed it- imagine my horror when I saw €46.50 flash up at the till. To avoid embarrassment I just paid it and hurried out. However, four years later it’s still my favourite and I use it all the time. The brown and cream compliment my blue eyes and the applicators help sweep  the highly pigmented colour on with precision- worth every penny!

Collection 2000, Fast Stroke Eyeliner

I first bought this eyeliner when I was about 12 (cue horrible realisation that that is half of my entire life) and still use it every day- it’s so easy to use and creates dramatic, pure black definition. Cannot recommend this liner enough- and it is crazy cheap!

Max Factor, Clump Defy Mascara

In my never-ending pursuit of a good mascara that doesn’t cost the earth, I opted to try this new Max Factor ‘Clump Defy’ and hoped it would do as it said: Provide volume without the clumps. And it does! The rubber brush clings to each single lash and gives individual intensity- it takes a couple of scoops to get it perfect for a night out but for day-to-day use I’d say give it a try!

Dior Travel Studio Compact

Last but not least, this comprehensive compact is an amazing handbag staple. It has everything you need so it’s perfect for trips where space doesn’t permit a 3 kilo makeup bag! I picked this up in Venice airport for a shocking €35! And, of course, Dior quality makeup is not to be sniffed at- it’s definitely my best makeup bargain!

#2 WHAT'S IN MY MAKE-UP BAG?

 

Comparative Literature Student Jackie Ashworth-McLintock tells us about her make-up bag essentials:

Clinique Even Better Foundation with SPF15

Having tried somewhere between twenty and thirty different foundations in the last eight of so years of makeup wearing, this is one of the few I’ve repeatedly purchased.  The benefits of this foundation for me lie in its medium- to full-coverage and oil free formula, which is perfect for my blemish-prone, combination skin.  It covers blemishes and post-blemish redness, and only requires a small amount of complementary concealer and setting powder.  At £22.50, it’s not exactly a steal, but the 30ml bottle tends to last several months, even with my heavy usage.  Furthermore, the quality of this product I feel allows for more leeway in the quality of powder and concealer, on which I tend to look to save money.  It goes without saying that a foundation with an SPF is just plain good sense.

Benefit Hoola pressed bronzing powder.

Again, at £23.50, this is not a cheap product, but when I bought mine, it was £21.50 if my memory serves correctly, so that should give an indication of how long each box lasts.  The product is pretty much the perfect bronzer for me.  It’s entirely matte, and I was told by the “BeneBabes” (I’m so sorry for just saying that) at the counter that the formula contains no orange tones, only browns, so you’re pretty much guaranteed to not look “tangoed”.  Hoola is good for delivering a pretty glow, but the real beauty in the totally non-shimmery finish is in contouring.  A sweep under the place my cheekbones ought to be and under my chin, where a second one occasionally likes to hide, and I like to think I look about 4lbs lighter.

Benefit Miss Popularity

I don’t know if this product even still exists!  It doesn’t seem to be in Benefit stores or their website.  However, eBayers can snatch it online for only £6.95 at the moment.  It’s been over four years since I acquired this product by accidentally-on-purpose never returning it to a friend, and I imagine she’d had it for a while first, and it’s STILL going on strong.  It’s a tiny bottle of extremely pigmented shimmery highlighting powder.  I use it under my eyebrows every single day, to add some definition to my eye area and occasionally reflect the light away from unplucked straggling hairs.  If I’m going for a smoky eye look, I often dab a little smudge of this in the inner corners of my eyes, to open the area up a little more.

Makeup Academy Intense Colour Precision Eye Liner Pencils 

For some items in my makeup bag, I much prefer to spend a little more and get a little more quality.  In fact, I have two eyeliner pencils in grey and black by Benefit that I will always want to use and thus I think is fair to spend that little bit more on.  However, when it comes to shades of eyeliner that I just don’t expect to be using everyday, I look for a bargain.  I absolutely love MUA’s eyeliner pencils, not only do they come in eight different colours (black, white, brown, white, green, navy, turquoise, lilac and even orange), they have a sharpener in the lid, and they cost only £1!  I own every colour (yes even the orange), and although I barely use some of the colours, I just know how badly I’d kick myself if I needed orange eyeliner and didn’t have any – and at less than a tenner for a full set, I couldn’t say no.  The colour is very pigmented, and it’s surprisingly longwearing considering the price.  A surprise favourite among the colours for me is “Lovely Lilac”, which is slightly pearlescent and complements my brown eyes well.  I run it underneath my lower lashes if I have brown shades on top, and it adds an almost-unnoticeably smoky softness.

Makeup Academy Blusher

Another absolute steal at only £1 each!  Whilst I have a couple of more high-end blushers, I tend to gravitate towards one of these a lot of the time.  Personally, I can never decide which blusher the day calls for until I’ve done the rest of my makeup, and because of the price of this one, I was again able to buy the entire range of shades.  So I can decide if I want a delicate pink flush for an understated look, a bronzed pink for a summery day, or a deep purplish brown for a dramatic, contoured evening look, I’m covered.  And all for under a fiver.  I don’t think you can say fairer than that.

#1 WHAT'S IN MY MAKE-UP BAG?

Frankie Dakin from eventhoughimskint.blogspot.co.uk tells us about her make-up bag essentials:

Revlon Colourstay Foundation for combination/oily skin - £12.49

I don’t really stick with a foundation and tend to rotate/mix my way through a few but Revlon Colourstay has been working pretty well for me at the moment. I’ve got pretty oily skin so the fact that it doesn’t just slide off is amazing, and it doesn’t rub onto my pillows (i’m one of those lazy people who never bother to remove their makeup before bed). Coverage wise, this foundation is medium to full so I can manage not to look like I put my makeup on with a trowel. Best of all it’s only £12.49 and lasts ages.

Real Techniques Stippling Brush - £10.99

I got this brush after hearing rave reviews from loads of other bloggers and It is AMAZING! It says on the box it helps you achieve an airbrushed high definition result which it definitely does. This brush could possibly make anyone bar Tulisa stand up to the HD test.

Mac Blot Powder in Dark - £20

Don’t know why this comes in colours because it’s supposed to be translucent but hey ho. This is my saviour, I get so oily as the day progresses, and this recent purchase has changed that for good. Walked into Mac the other day to pretend I wanted to buy something to fix my shine (just wanted a retouch) and she put this on me. I felt guilty and bought it, but I’m so glad I did. I apply it once in the morning, won’t reapply all day and later when I look in the mirror I won’t look like someone’s taken a can of Mr Sheen to my nose.

Bourjois Poudre Clubbing Gold Bronzing powder - £6.99

If, like me, you have a pretty much spherical face contouring is your friend. I go through a shit-tonne of bronzer, despite being a woman of colour, trying to give myself the cheekbones of Jourdan Dunn. This bronzer (which I stole off my little sister I might add) does a good job and it has tiny gold bits which are pretty - also IT SMELLS LIKE CHOCOLATE! Can’t go wrong with that one.

Rimmel Eyebrow pencil - £2.99

Its true eyebrows do frame the face, and my older Facebook pictures are testament to how weird I looked before I pencilled them in. Sometimes I’m watching telly wondering what’s wrong with someone’s face, and yep they’ve got invisible eyebrows. Sort it out.

Benefit Big Beautiful eyes – eye contour kit - £24.50

Another thing I stole off my sister...woops. It includes concealer, base shadow, contour shadow and liner shadow and I love all of it. I always use the concealer under my eyes, and considering I’m pretty much an insomniac it does wonders. The best bit is the gorgeous taupe contour shadow. The only time I ever get complimented on my eye shadow is when I’m wearing this.

Sleek Ink Pot gel eyeliner in Dominatrix  - £5.49

If you don’t use gel liner you are missing out. It comes with a little brush to put it on and never comes off. Seriously. I have difficulty removing it in the shower in the morning, that’s how good it is.

Mac lipstick in Sin - £14

The name says it all. I saw Rihanna wearing this exact shade at the Victoria’s Secret fashion show at the end of last year and I had to have it. This lipstick is sexy as hell - really dark cool toned matte red. Wearing this, it’s impossible not to feel like the baddest bitch alive.

Want to show us what's in yours? Tweet us @CUBMagazine or email yours to cubbeauty@gmail.com