USA Beauty Haul - Sephora and Ulta

While we were holidaying in Florida during August we could not resist a trip to the beauty stores (lets be honest we made about 5 trips but who's counting!) We always like to check out the products that are US exclusives or difficult to come by in the UK and we got our hands on some treasures!

Lets start with Sephora (also known as the Mother Ship!). Our first trip to Sephora was at our favourite Orlando shopping destination, Mall at Millenia, where we picked up some of the excellent Sephora brand make up brushes. We have tried some of these brushes in the past, I own a crease brush and a blending brush, but we had not tried the Pro Brushes nor the Value Sets so we were interested to take a look at what was on offer. I had the Sephora Small Pro Stippling Brush on my must have list and snapped up one of those up along with the Pro Tapered Crease Brush which is amazing for a precise crease shadow application. Another must purchase was the legendary Beauty Blender. Now I realise I am a little late to the party on this one and I know it is available in the UK but it's sooo much cheaper in the US and for this reason I thought it was time I gave it a whirl. After 3 weeks use I can safely say that it has changed my foundation/concealer life! I am loving it for blending foundation, CC cream, tinted moisturiser, under eye concealer - you name it! I also picked up a new Beautyblender Solid Cleaner as Mimi said I used all of her last one (!). Another potentially life changing item was then secured - the Anastacia Brow Wiz. Until tragedy struck! On the flight home the holy grail item was safely packed in my make up bag in my case however when I got home I noticed that it has somehow snapped in half during the journey. I see a repurchase on the horizon.

I really wanted to try one of the Fresh Sugar scents and after smelling all of them settled on Fresh Sugar Lemon which is a lovely blend of their traditional sugar sent with lemons thrown in. I love it! Finally, when approaching the cash register and making my way through the aisle of temptation I grabbed hold of the Elizabeth and James Nirvana perfume duo and the cute Sephora TSA Approved Travel Bag to use on the flight home.

Next it was off to Ulta where I stocked up on my favourite L'Oreal Color Riche Balms which I now own in every colour with duplicates of my top two! I was very restrained in Ulta and only picked up a couple other items including the NYX Skinny Mascara that I wanted to try as a bottom lash mascara. So far so good! (lets be honest here, I bought two!) Of course it wouldn't be a trip to Ulta without throwing in a few - okay SIX - nail polishes into the mix! I love these L'Oreal nail polishes and Essie is our favourite nail polish brand so we had to get our hands on some new shades.

Special mention to the Covergirl Ready Set Gorgeous Foundation. I have seen some Beauty YouTubers praising this product and it is so affordable I thought I would give it a try. It is now my daily go-to foundation and I wish I had picked up a spare!

Since having LVL Enhance lash treatment I have steered away from waterproof mascaras. Therefore, when the new Covergirl Super Sizer Mascara caught my eye I was tempted to give it a whirl. You are supposed to 'twist' the brush as you apply at but that seems a bit weird to me so I have stuck to the traditional application method! The fine wand grabs hold of and makes all of your lashes stand out and it holds a curl nicely. So far, so good!

Usually when we travel to the US we find lots of things that are not available in the UK however I think that the UK beauty market is getting much better and we seem to be able to get our hands on most things and most brands that they have in the US with a few minor exceptions. This meant that I did not purchase nearly as much as usual - good for my bank balance!

Look out for our Bath and Body Works haul coming soon!

Have you tried any of the above mentioned products? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Elle x

What's In My Travel Make Up Bag?

The answer is.....probably way too much! Even though we try and prune our collection down to a reasonable size to travel with the truth is we always take too much and things come back unused. We always intend to do some beauty shopping when in Florida (watch this space for our holiday haul!) therefore we try to keep that in mind when eliminating products from our bulging make up bags!

 

Here are our 'must have' products that we simply cannot do without and that we took 4000 miles to Orlando with us.

Elle's Picks

 

The make up bag I took with me is the Sonia Kashuk Completely Organized Make Up Bag that I picked up in Target 2 years ago. I have 2 of these in different sizes and took the larger one with me. This is a nylon bag with so many pockets, zips and pouches you can probably put something in and never find it again! It is roomy and practical and in addition to the products I took in my carry on it fit everything alse I needed for my 3 week holiday:

Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser: When I am in a hot country the last thing I want to be wearing is a heavy, full coverage foundation so I always reach for the old faithful Nars Tinted Moisturiser. It has a reasonable amount of coverage for a tinted moisturiser and evens out my skin tone nicely. It feels light on the skin and gives a natural and glowing finish which is perfect for a holiday look.

 

Nars Creamy Concealer: If I need any additional coverage I much prefer to use a concealer rather than a fuller coverage foundation. This concealer gives excellent coverage of blemishes and any spots that may decide to rear their ugly head!

 

Maybelline Instant Anti-Age The Eraser Eye Concealer: (light) This has been my go to under eye concealer for the past 2 years and I have yet to find something to compete. It has a light coverage and never settles in fine lines around the eyes which is perfect for older skin.

 

Naked Basics Pallet: I am wholly dependent on the Naked Basics pallet to create a natural eye make up look therefore it was a must have to take on this trip. On the plus side it is small and very portable so doesn't take up too much space.  

 

By Terry Ombre Blackstar: I packed two of these as I love them to sweep across the lid, quickly blend with a Sigma E25 and off you go! I am also a big fan of cream products in the summer and that includes a cream eye shadow. I took Misty Rock for a daytime look and Bronze Moon which is darker and gives a more intense evening look. 

 

Charlotte Tilbury Film Star Bronze and Glow (Norman Parkinson Collection): This is a new product purchased especially for the summer and I LOVE it. It is simply gorgeous! I had my eye on this for around 3 months and was determined to get my hands on it for my holiday. It is the only bronzer and highlighter I took with me - all in one beautiful, handy compact.

 

Chanel Cream Blush: (Chamade) I love cream blush in the summer months and in addition to the remnants of my favourite discontinued YSL Crème Blush I packed my Chanel Cream Blush in Chamade. This is quite a bright pink and looks lovely with tanned skin.

 

Bourjois Colour Boost: (Proudly Naked) I am a huge fan of the Bourjois Colour Boost lip crayons and this beautiful natural pink-nude is my latest purchase in the line (I think I may have all of the other colours!) They are creamy and comfortable but long lasting. This one claims to last for 10 hours however as a constant lip product re-applier I have not put these claims to the test!

 

Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner: (East End Snob) I have literally been using this lip liner for years! It seems to be the current blogger fave (and apparently a dupe for the Charlotte Tilbury lip pencil in Pillow Talk) but when this Rimmel pencil is so good I see no need to splurge on something 4 x more expensive.

Mimi's Picks

 

I used my Vera Bradley Hanging Organiser as my travel make up bag this summer. Although this isn't technically a makeup bag it has a lot of different wipe clean, clear compartments so it's really easy to see and find everything. I also like how I can hang this up in the hotel bathroom and everything is ready to use. I used my Mr Bunny travel make up brush set from Sigma to carry my many makeup brushes as there is a lot of room for extra brushes and I like to use it to stand my brushes on the counter top when applying my makeup. 

 

Revlon Eyelash Curlers - I have repurchased these for years! They are cheap, do the job well and I don't get upset if they get a little beaten up. However as we are both had LVL Lash treatment just before our holiday they were never used!

 

Tarte Amazonian Clay BB Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen -

This is other product I purchased on whim in Sephora and was not disappointed. It basically does what it says on the tin. It’s a lovely light weight skin evening base. I was running very low on this so I repurchased this trip!

 

Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer - I love this for concealing and highlighting under my eyes it has a lightweight consistency and is very moisturising so it never looks cakey or heavy.　 

Anastasia Brow Wiz - This is my ultimate holy grail product. Need I say more? Heat proof and long lasting!

 

Maybelline Lash Sensational Waterproof - I am so fussy with mascara but this one is unbelievable! It curls and holds my straight lashes like no other mascara.

 

Chanel Bronze Universal - I stole this from Elle and I am obsessed! This is a gorgeous creamy bronzer which is really easy to use. It is very subtle but also buildable.

 

No 7 Pop and Glow Cream Blusher - I have this in both Mango Sorbet and Rose and I love both. The formula of these products is so creamy, smooth and pigmented! I have a big issue with my makeup disappearing throughout the day but these little blush sticks these really hang around. I like them so much I am thinking of purchasing the highlight stick and the bronze stick as well.

 

Naked 3 - This pallet is my go-to for every eyeshadow look. I love the cool toned matte colours for everyday and the high sheen glitters for a fun night-time look. My favourites everyday look is Nooner through the crease, some mascara and I'm ready to face the world.

 

We would love to hear about your favourite holiday make up! Tell us about some of your favourites below!

Holy Grail Products

Elle’s Picks

 

 

Maybelline Instant Anti-AgeThe Eraser Eye Concealer (light)

Since discovering this concealer on a trip to Ulta in 2013 I am unable to do without it as part of my daily make up routine.  As your eye area ages the last thing you need is a thick under eye concealer that gathers in fine lines and makes you look tired and older. That’s why I love this concealer. The formula is nice a light and it never creases or looks cakey on me. I know that some reviewers are not a fan of the sponge applicator but I rather like it as it helps the product to glide on easily and gives just the right amount of coverage. It is a daily make up must have for me!

Max Factor Masterpiece MascaraWaterproof (black) 

I literally could talk for days about mascara! I am on a seemingly endless quest for the perfect mascara for my (short stubby) lashes. However while my search continues I am (almost) satisfied by the Max Factor Masterpiece. It has to be waterproof and it has to be black. The brush is not too thick and it disperses just the right amount of product. The product is a good consistency in that it is not too wet a formula and being waterproof it really holds a curl once I have used my Shu Eemura eyelash curlers (another holy grail product…) I recently purchased the Max Factor Masterpiece HD Waterproof to try and I will report back to you on how it compares to the original.

Lanolips 101 Ointment

My addiction to lip balm is a joke in our family and I can safely say that in over 20 years my lips have never been free from some kind of lip balm, lipstick or lip product! My obsession with Lanolips is such that I actually have two on the go at any one time. I keep one on my bedside table and one in the living room next to my chair so that I have quick and easy access at all times! Lanolips is an Australian product with 100% pure Ultra Medical Grade Lanolin. It is a natural substance taken from freshly shorn sheep’s wool. That may sound weird but believe me, it makes for a wonderful product that melts onto your lips and keeps them hydrated for hours. Its great for those no make up days and it makes a fantastic travel companion, especially if you are flying long haul.

 

Mimi’s Picks

 

Anastasia Brow Wiz

 

It's hard to believe that until a year or so ago I didn't even touch my brows!!!!! Now I can't leave the house without them preened! I am a sucker for hype so even though I was a brow virgin I thought I would give it a go. I have never looked back! I have tried all the "dupes" and honestly, nothing comes close to this product. I log straight onto Cult Beauty whenever I hear the dreaded winding click!!!! I love how easy this is to use, just twist up the pencil, use a light hand and brush out with the spool  end. The best part of this product is it does not move. EVER! I purchased this in Sephora whilst in Orlando and it's safe to say that if the brows can't be defeated by 100 degree heat they can tackle anything!

MAC Lightscapade

I bought this highlighter on a whim years ago when they released it as part of the Hayley Williams collection and it is still going strong. This is a beautiful soft icy highlighter which is often hard to find without looking chalky or glittery. Unlike my other favourite (MAC Soft and Gentle) this highlighter really can be worn any day and with any look. Try a quick sweep for a subtle glow or pack it on for an ultra glowy look! If this ever does run out (I've had it 2 years and there's barely a dent) I would be running to MAC to repurchase!
 

Nuxes Lip Balm

 

This was a hand me down from Elle who bought it and wasn't so keen. However, as someone with perpetually sad, chapped lips this is exactly what I crave. I mainly use this at night before I go to bed and in the morning just before I put my make up on. It is so thick and soothing on the lips and works great under lipstick. It has a very unusual scent almost like oranges which I love. This really helps me out if I want to wear a bold lip. I scrub my lips using the Lush lip scrub, lather this on and I’m good to go! 

What are your ‘Holy Grail’ products? We’d love to hear from you!