What's In My Bag: The Bare Minimum Edition ☼

Salaam and hello my lovelies! Hope you're all doing well :o) It's been about a year since I did my last one, so I thought why not do another what's in my bag post? I love reading other WIMB posts.. I can't be the only one right? I think it's in the human nature to be curious (read: nosy) about such things! ^^

 The lovely weather has led me to stop being such a hermit and stepping outside to explore my little city, and being one who usually has a massive bag full of books and notes and many other things 'I might need just in case', I found I needed to cut down on it all in order for me to get around more easily without all my stuff bogging me down!

So lately I have slowly been figuring out, through trial and error, what things I will definitely need and use, and it has culminated to this.. these.. THESE are the things I definitely need and use! It took me a bloody long time and willpower, I'm telling ya..

[ My bag is a gift from my mum, if anyone is wondering (^-^) she randomly got me it one day because she felt like it. I love my mum! ]

[clockwise from left]

Let's do this~

1. Brecon Carreg Natural Mineral Water - The only mineral water I like to drink~ Being on Roaccutane makes you incredibly thirsty - ALL the time, and keeping hydrated is a definite must, especially in the summer time and when I'm out exploring.

2. Sticky Note pad, pen, and clip - Pad and pen for when I need to write something down, and the clip for when I have had a packet of something to eat and didn't finish it. I just clip it on so it doesn't spill everywhere in my bag :D I always keep one with me in each bag hehe. Works a treat! Better than an elastic band in my opinion.

3. Roaccutane tablets - I prefer to have my tablets when I have had a meal, so I keep some with me in case I have gone out and eaten. I find my body prefers it when I have my tablets earlier in the day. 

4. Portable Mobile Charger - Just in case my phone battery runs out of juice! Which it usually does, the stupid thing -.- and by lunchtime too.. *sighs*

5. Eucerin Aquaphor Lip Repair - LITERALLY the best lip treatment in the world. Recommend it 1000000%! I have one in every room, and in every bag.. A Roaccutane users best friend!

6. Origins Make A Difference Rejuvenating Hand Treatment - it really does make a difference! Hehe. And it's a small deluxe sample size so it fits perfectly in my bag. Since I've been on Roaccutane, my hands have gotten extremely dry, so I need to use hand cream almost every time I wash or sanitize my hands. Alongside my Aquaphor, I have a hand cream in each bag and room too. For the full review on this hand cream click here~

7. Bath & Body Works Sweet Pea PocketBac Antibacterial Hand Gel - a gift from my best friend. For when there is no tap and hand wash available! I'm such a germaphobe. (>.<)

8. Victoria's Secret Perfume in Simply Breathless - I've almost run out of this! My best friend got me this too hehe. I love how fruity it is~ I adore fruity scents! And yes, I know this isn't exactly a necessity, but I can't live without my perfume!

9. Purse - From New Look! I got it in the January sales. I adore the colour and the gold metal detailing. It sort of matches my bag now that I look at it!

I also usually take the lipstick of the day with me, but that varies from day to day. There's also my phone, iPod and headphones, but they're usually in my pocket. (^__^)

Wow that's a lot more than I thought I had - and yet somehow they all fit into my little bag, and don't give me back pains ;D

What are your bare minimum bag essentials?☺

Disclaimer: All products were bought with my own money unless stated otherwise. All opinions are my own. Pinky promise^^

April Favourites ♥

AAAAAAAAAAHHHHH SPRING IS HEREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

*runs through a field Bollywood movie style, her scarf flying in the wind, violins playing in the background*

Erm.. okay so I'm not quite that happy LMAO, but you get what I mean XD Seriously though, I'm so glad the sun is out now. It has finally led me to putting some colour into my life. Let me show you where..

1. The Body Shop's Body, Room & Linen Spray in Pomegranate & Raspberry - Long time readers might recognise this from my 'Five Favourites Friday: The Body Shop' post I did last year. I've been using this a lot lately, because it reminds me of summer and I just want it to hurry up and get here already! It smells gorgeous and fruity and I still have not finished it. I swear I've had it for about two years? I've no idea how this hasn't finished, I use it soooooooo much!!

2. MAC Cremesheen lipstick in Fanfare* - I won this in a blog giveaway last year and it just ended up being left in the back of my drawer because autumn had already kicked in and it didn't seem like an autumn colour to me. But now I don't really care what season it is, I wear what I feel like. (^__^) So I've been pulling his out when I feel like I want to wear a lighter colour than my usual MLBB lipsticks.

[Left: - MAC Fanfare, right - Revlon Lipbutter in Wild Watermelon]

 3. Revlon Lipbutter in Wild Watermelon - Bought this a few weeks ago and have been loving it ever since! I was a little afraid of it at first, but this is seriously the most wearable red ever. Well, from the three I've ever worn LOL. But honestly, it gives a beautiful wash of colour. I tend to wear this when my face is looking a little dead.. it really brightens up my face!

4. Florals - mainly asian clothes, but I have been wearing some floral hijaabs too. I even bought a new one the other day! :) I like this one because it's long enough to wrap around my head twice to make it opaque so you can't see my hair underneath, but also is thin enough to keep me cool at the same time (^__^)

Gosh I've been colourful this month. It's like I'm a whole different person. I didn't realise the sun could have such an affect on me. (>.<) What have you been loving lately? (^__^)

Disclaimer: Everything was bought by me by with my own money, apart from the MAC lipstick as mentioned before in the post. :D

MAC Wishlist ♥

MAC Wishlist by themaryfairy
[Can all be purchased at maccosmetics.co.uk or Debenhams ^^]

Can you believe I haven't bought anything from MAC yet?

Me neither. I mean I've bought MAC things for others as gifts (because I knew exactly what they wanted) but never for myself. So I decided to rectify that. And so here is my list!

1. Pro Longwear Concealer

I've heard a lot of good things about this concealer, read many a review raving about this, and have decided this is the one I want! I have a Bourjois concealer but it's just a tad too light for me, so I hardly ever use it. 

2. Fix+

I've been wanting to try this for a long time. At the end of the day, the makeup on my oily t zone tends to just disappear, so it will be nice to see if this prevents that from happening. Might get the smaller version first though, I hate getting something full size and regretting it later when it doesn't work for me!

3. Lipstick

A cremesheen one to be precise! Not quite sure which one I want yet, not many colours seem to go with my weird asian skin tone :/ or with my abnormally pigmented lips!

4. Blush

Everyone loves their blushes! And if I'm honest.. I love the look of them too! I already have an pinky/golden blush in the form of Sleeks Rose Gold blush, and as mentioned in a previous haul post I have Benefits Hervana - so I have a pinky one in that, so I might go for a darker blush with MAC! Any suggestions? (^__^)

5. Fluidline in Blacktrack

Once my Maybelline gel liner is finished (this may be a while) I want to try a different one, namely this one. Or should I get the Bobbi Brown one..? Ladies? Help? ^^

6. Mineralize Skin Finish

I'm running low on setting powder, and have heard many a good thing about this stuff! I got this for my sister and she loves it. Made me wish I got it for myself too from the way she went on about it :P

So what's on your MAC wishlist? Have you tried any of these? Do you recommend any of them? Let me know in the comments below! 

September Favourites ♥

Is it just me, or did September go by really fast? No? Just me? Okay then >.< I'll just shut up and get on with my September favourites then shall I? Yes? Okay cool stuff..

♦     Garnier Dark Spot Corrector - Haven't been using this long enough for me to notice that any of my marks fading, but it's a brilliant moisturiser and smells very citrusy, which is always a winner for me because I'm obsessed with fruity smells. :P It leaves my skin feeling very hydrated and it really is 'illuminating' just like it says on the bottle!

♦     EcoTools Mineral Powder Brush - Aaaahh I love anything travel sized and brushes are no exception. I bought this off ebay in a diddy little set that cost a fraction of the price compared to if I bought it from Boots! It distribute the powder evenly and isn't scratchy in the least. I've washed it a few times now and it hasn't shed even a single hair!

♦     Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey - I know I know, I broke my makeup ban. Again. For the third time I believe? I don't buy makeup much anyway, and most of the stuff on my Project Pan list is either body care, skincare, or face powders! And besides, this was on offer for £5.99, and I got to use a £2 off any Revlon product Boots voucher that I had on top of it so it cost me £3.99! I couldn't resist it okay. I was WEAK. Not my fault it was such a bargain and looks and feels so good on my lips. Hmph.

♦     Avon Super Extend Extreme Mascara in Black - Looooooooving this. got this with the July Edition of Marie Claire and have finally started using it after my other two (which shall be in my next empties post In Shaa Allah) finished/dried up. The wand is plastic and it separates and lengthens my lashes so beautifully that it's almost rivalling my favourite L'oreal Telescopic mascara! The formula is just right too, and it holds the curl for aaaages. I don't usually wear mascara much, but this has been making me reach for it every day!

♦     Natural Collection Loose Powder in Warm Translucent - I went through a phase of loving powders (one of which I'm selling in my blog sale if anyone's interested) and in it I bought this. I forgot all about it once I found Rimmel's Clear Complexion Clarifying Powder, and it sat at the back of my draw for ages. I thought I'd pull it out and give it a go with the mineral powder brush I got in the EcoTools set that I  mentioned before, and it works really well with it and it reminded me of how much I love this powder! It reduces shine and sets makeup really well, all for just £1.99!

♦     Purity Organic Skincare Conditioning Cleansing Lotion Makeup Remover* - special mention for this guy. I ran out of my Simple wipes and had finished my usual makeup remover (again, shall be in my next empties post, In Shaa Allah) and I started using this a lot more, and it really has helped condition my skin. Sometimes when I use my Simple wipes to take off my mascara (which I've been wearing more often lately) on days when I'm far too tired to do anything for longer than five minutes, it really makes my eyelids sore. This is where this makeup remover comes in. I mean, I have a full review on it here but seriously, this even takes off my mascara without irritating my eyelids, and I don't even have to wash my face after wiping it off. Something we all need at the end of a long day I reckon!

Woo! That was a bit of a rambly post. I apologise. I am typing this up in the dead of the night sooo. :P What products have you been loving this month? ☺

*PR sample, sent to me for consideration. All views are my own, I promise. :o)

I won a L'oreal Insider Goody Bag! :D

I'm seriously the Neville Longbottom of the Muggle world. I have zero luck, a bad memory, and I *never* win ANYTHING. 

So when I came downstairs one rainy, May morning and my dad asked me if I'd ordered something I replied with a very puzzled '.. no?' because as you all know, I'm on Project 13 Pan. 

I opened the package, curious and confused in equal parts, wondering if I had been sleep-online-shopping because the box had my name on it and I had definitely not ordered anything.

But when I opened it I found a letter from L'oreal Paris saying I'd won a goody bag! xD

How awesome is that! So I thought I'd show you what I got and if anyone would like any reviews of anything in particular, just drop a comment below and let me know!

 I haven't actually had a chance to play with them yet (it's been over a month, I know, but like I said I am on Project Pan!) but I'll test them if someone wants a review. If not I'll just wait until the end of P13P like a good girl hehe >.<

Nude Magique BB cream in Medium

Color Infallible Eyeshadow in Innocent Turquoise (Iridescent finish)

Color Riche Lipstick in Rose Tendre (303)

False Lash Telescopic in Magnetic Black

Not quite sure if the lipstick will suit me.. it says it's for blondes O.o Also for some reason, I couldn't find the exact colour on the Boots website - anyone know where to find it?

Ah well. I guess I'll just have to wait and see (^__^)

If you'd like to join, click here - they're always doing loads of competitions, and you get some pretty good personalised vouchers too, such as £2 off any L'oreal cosmetics, skincare, or new Glam Shine Range! Well those are mine anyway; like I said they are personalised to what type of stuff you're into! :)

Anyhoo, that's enough babbling from me. Till next time, stay beautiful! ☺