What I Took for A Weekend Away

I’m really good at packing, I’m so good that I take everything with me even just for a night away. I challenged myself when I went away to London at the weekend to only pack what I could fit into my Victoria’s Secret cometic bag.

There are 3 items that wouldn’t have fit into the bag – no matter how little I had in it. I was going to buy hair spray and dry shampoo minis – but on my no spend month I decided to resist. I apologise my photography is not on point, this was a rush job when I really should have been packing clothes/painting my nails/washing my hair!

Hair

Aussie Miracle Dry Shampoo, Schwarzkopf Got 2 B Rise and Shine Hairspray, The Wet Clip, The Wet Brush Shine & The Beauty Protector Hair Oil Mini.

I think whilst I’m there the dry shampoo will have it’s last use and I didn’t want to buy a smaller  hairspray (as I knew one was on it’s way in a beauty box – and was hoping it would arrive in time!) I’ve also got my favourite ‘The Wet Brush’ Shine – I’ve just bought another one of these in the normal kind – but wanted to take my old favourite whilst away, just in case the performance isn’t as good. As well as a miniature hair oil – I haven’t tried these minis from my Birchbox out too much yet as I’m try hard to finish a full size I’ve had for 3 years – but these smell lovely!

Skincare

Sainsburys Boutique Cotton Pads, Manuka Doctor Skin Repair Cream, Claris Concerntrate Eye Cream, Garnier Micellar Water Mini, Clarins Hyrdraquench lotion, Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference Cleanser, Dermalogica SPF 30 Body Block

It’s meant to be hot in London this weekend, so was important to take a body block with me to ensure I didn’t burn. I also combined a lotion for my face that also had an spf in it to save on space in the clarins hydraquench sample I got recently. I got the manuka doctor for evenings as it can be used everywhere – so whether I have sore feet or just want some moisturiser for my face it will be all in one. I found a travel size of my beloved garnier micellar water, my big bottle is virutally full and I didn’t want to take that with me, so this is handy to have and the cap comes off unlike the full size so I can refill! I found a sample sachet of an Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference cleanser in my stash – good for the evening and feeling throughly clean after a hot day in the city.

Makeup Brushes + Razor

Real Techniques Blush Brush, Becca Powder Bronzer 18, Sephora Brush (code has rubbed off), Real Techniques Bold Metals Angled Liner, Crown Blush Brush (Dog chewed), and Venus Snap Razor.

Real Techniques I use for powder bronzer/blush, Becca I use for all over translucent powder, Sephora I use for foundation/cream bronzer, Angled liner brush is for eyeliner & the crown blush brush is for highlighter.

Makeup

Pixi All Over Magic in Bare Radiance is by far the best highlighter that I have used, it isn’t over the top or obvious but just gives that lit from within glow – it’s not chalky or . Lancome Teint Miracle – I’m planning on getting another foundation while I’m there, this currently colour matches me the best from my collection – but it does lean a little too yellow, and isn’t holding up well in the heat. Essence all about Matt Concealer will help balance out any yellowness in the foundation as it is quite neutral, Also doing a good job of hiding any dark circles in the morning it’s perfect. I’m yet to be convinced by the Instablur primer I bought from the Body Shop last week, it’s either not suited to the ultra warm weather we’re having or it’s not very good, i look at my makeup mid afternoon and days I’ve been wearing this I’ve noticed that across my cheeks my foundation has all gone! Lastly my favourite blush Peach Nuance from Estee Lauder, whilst I’ve hit pan, this seems to keep going and going and going, perfect shade for summer especially.

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer, Maybelline Gel Eyeliner, My Little Beauty Volumising Mascara, 17 Bronze eye eye shadow, Ofra Liquid Lipstick in Santa Monica, Revolution Matt Malibu Bronzer, Pixi Long lasting shadow sticks in Gilded Mink & Gentle Gold. L’oreal Brow Pencil.

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer is a perfect brown shade that’s not too dark or too light, I have noticed it doesn’t last all day so have been pairing it with Revolution Matt Malibu that I purchased last week and the two hold up longer together. Maybelline gel eyeliner stays in place all day long with no smudging or creasing, it’s absolutely perfect – I’ve had this for 3 years and it’s almost empty now but it’s never dried out. My Little Beauty Volumising Mascara, sad to report that this is almost empty now and I think it might make it into this month’s empties,doesn’t smudge or flake and will last all day (which is good as I have 2 very long days). Pixi long lasting eyeshadow sticks are so good they don’t need a primer even on my oily lids, they last until you take them off which is excellent in the heat, and will work as a base for the 17 eyeshadow should I choose to use it. Lastly my L’oreal eye brow pencil, I’ve been loving my HD brows kit – but decided to save on space and the need of an extra brush with a pencil instead (which also holds up better in the heat too).

You’ll notice there’s no powder here – I carry a Revolution Pressed powder in my handbag so have saved doubling up and have kept efficiency in check!

Fragrance

A 30ml bottle of my favourite perfume Michael Kors Very Hollywood which is reserved exclusively for travel! I haven’t been wearing this a lot recently as I’ve been trying to clear my way through my perfume collection so I only have ones which I love – not 20 that I like, so i was excited to use this over the weekend.

What are  your weekend away essentials?

Instagram: @helplesswhilstdrying  |  Twitter: @helplessdrying

Email: helplesswhilstdrying@gmail.com

Follow: