Winter skin ft. Double Wear

Image taken from Google Search

Price: $50 AUD inc tax (purchase from Myer, David Jones or Online)
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Packaging: 4/5 (Glass packaging always feel more luxe)

15-hour staying power. Flawless all day. This worry-free, long-wearing makeup stays fresh and looks natural through heat, humidity, nonstop activity. Won't change color, smudge or come off on clothes. Feels lightweight and comfortable. Now the flawless look you see in the morning is the look you keep all day

Travel Beauty Essentials

Keeping in the theme of Travel blog posts for this month this post will focus on which beauty essentials I think you need while traveling. I don't know about you guys but I hate packing, especially when it comes to makeup. I don't wear much these days, my everyday to weekend routine consists of concealer, (swapping between) tinted moisturizer and full coverage foundation (for night), bronzer (matte finish, always), false lashes (only for going out) and my eos lip balm (or lipstick for a night out). But when I travel, it's a completely different story, I must always be prepared so I tend to pack more than I actually need. As a frequent traveler, I have finally made a shortlist of my must have travel essentials whether you are only going on a short trip, month long or whatever.

Taken on my Samsung Galaxy S5

1.  Primer - make sure it's a moisturizer and has UV sun protection in one. They say less is more, most primers can do it all, but most importantly it should hold your makeup into place for hours. Sometimes you don't have time to go back to your hotel room to freshen up or you might find yourself going from the beach straight to the club. My current picks are Hourglass veil primer, MAC P&P face primer UV50+ (only sold in Asia) & Embryolisse Lait Cream (moisturizer & primer in one). 

Tropical Traveling

As I plan my trip to Bali later this month, here's some of my fave items I like to take with me when I travel to a tropical paradise anywhere in the world;

•  iPad & headphones - lying in a hammock or the beach all day listening to music sounds like my perfect break!
• Clear Sephora Makeup Bag (great for airport security to place all your liquids under 100ml) 
• Shu Uemura High performance cleansing oil - Gently removes makeup (including waterproof) while leaving your face so soft
• Arbonne 5 brush travel kit
• MAC Mineralise Skinfinish - great alternative to foundation, can double up as an everyday bronzer too
• Passport - well unless your road tripping, then don't forget this!
• Marc by Marc Jacobs sunnies
• Panasonic Lumix Digital Waterproof Camera
• Roll on Marc Jacobs Daisy perfume, this is great for travel coz you don't have to lug around a whole bottle
• Bumble and bumble surf spray - for sexy beach style tressles
• Travel size Arbonne FC5 Ultra-Hydrating Hand Crème
• MAC sized to go Fix +

(Image taken on my Samsung Galaxy S5)

March Makeup Picks

Another month passing by, can you believe how quickly the year is going? For those who follow me on Instagram, you'll see me post every now and then my makeup picks for a particular type of finish. Check out my current faves for a full coverage matte finish and full coverage dewy finish. What are your favourite products for matte and dewy makeup looks?

• Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer - This satin-finish, oil-free mineral primer creates a porcelain-smooth complexion, that will give your foundation longevity like no other whilst minimising shine and protecting against sun damage.
• NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation - A revolutionary foundation that defies expectation by combining sixteen hours of full-coverage wear with a weightless feel and radiant finish. 
• Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer - Perfect for concealing the most extreme flaws, such as scars, severe skin damage, beauty spots, depigmentation or birthmarks. It can even hide tattoos. Waterproof and long-lasting, it holds even under extreme conditions thanks to its perfectly stable formula. It evens the skin tone and camouflages imperfections for a long period of time.

• Arbonne Face Primer - This luxurious makeup primer glides on to visually diminish the appearance of fine lines and pores, creating a smooth surface.
• NARS Sheer Glow Foundation - A master of the runway, this hydrating foundation brightens and evens skin tone, whilst providing all day coverage with a natural, radiant finish
• MAC Pro Longwear Concealer - A lightweight fluid concealer that provides medium to full coverage with a comfortable, natural matte finish. Colour-true formula lasts up to 15 hours. Helps conceal and correct the look of under-eye circles, and discolorations

Images taken using my Samsung Galaxy S5

We don't just shine, we illuminate the whole show

Currently on rotation in my kitty:

- Arbonne Sheer Glow Highlighter

- Benefit Cosmetics High Beam (suitable on all skin tones)

- Benefit Cosmetics Sun Beam (suitable for warmer skin tones)

- Benefit Cosmetics Lust Duster (mix this with a cream or liquid and it looks amazing)

- Benefit Cosmetics Sugarbomb (great for a peachy finish)
- Benefit Cosmetics Bronzer & Highlighter Duo (suitable on all skin tones)
- MAC Mineralise Skinfinish (matte and sheen duo, discontinued)
- MAC Mineralise eyeshadow (yes I use it to highlight instead of using them on eyes)
- NARS The Multiple (suitable for lighter skin tones)
- Smashbox Softlights highliter (suitable for warmer skin tones)

Taken with my Samsung Galaxy S5

Summer vs Winter

Melbourne has been on that bi-polar heat stroke as of late, if it ain't super hot then it's raining and muggy. As a result, my skin can't get use to the same products on the daily however I have managed to stick with a few staples I use over the summer months and winter months that have become my faves over the last year. You'll notice that my choice of winter products are much heavier and creamier, this is because my skin tends to dry out and I need that extra moisture to keep that dewy look I prefer. My summer product staple has to be my all time fave MAC Fix + spray or fancy water as some call it ;)

SUMMER

- MAC Fix +

- MAC Prep & Prime 50+ skin primer (Aussie sun, you know what I mean)

- MAC Pro Longwear concealer

- MAC Prep & Prime concealer/highlighter

- Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser (day time)

- Sephora 10 hr foundation (for nights out)

- MAC mineralise skinfinish powder (used as an all over powder or simply a light contour and bronzer)

- NARS Orgasm blush (for a summer flush, red cheek)

WINTER

 - Arbonne makeup primer

- NARS concealer cream stick (spot concealing)

- MAC cream concealer (I like to use as my highlighter)

- MAC Studio Sculpt foundation (gel type, really dewy/creamy)

- MAC creme blush 

- MAC RiRi colleciton blush/bronzer combo

- NARS blush in Dolce Vita

Photos taken with my Samsung Galaxy S5