Whats in my travel bag

Heya everyone, Im going on holiday to New York this week and I am super excited about it. My family are taking me for my birthday so we will be starting the celebrations when we get out there (about two months early) :). I only been on a long haul flight once when I was about 15 so I've been watching lots of youtube videos and reading lots of blog posts for advice about what to take with me. My bag is overloaded and I have no idea if I've overpacked or not packed enough but I'm soon to find out.

I brought this bag especially for this trip. I wanted a bag that was big enough to fit my camera and other bits in and could go across the body as I'm taking my DLSR and it weighs a tonne carrying it around all day in a handbag. I've also managed to fit all my hand luggage in which is a bonus. Its £17.99 from New Look.

I am being prepared with magazines. I will probably finish most of these before I get on the plane.

I'm trying out an adults colouring book. I've liked the idea of this but I've never seen any I actually like the designs of. I saw this one though and really liked it and its small so can fit in my bag which I thought was a bonus. I've got some old colouring pencils (they're not perfect for pictures, but I did my best) :) and a note pad just incase I get some inspiration for blog ideas or anything.

I feel like I might have a bit to much beauty stuff here. I got a few bits I normally carry around with me such as the Hand sanitizer. lip balm. hand cream and hair bands. I've also packed a couple of things to give myself a little pampering session (as I've got 7 hours to kill) which I have packed a cleanser, makeup wipes, a hydration mask and some moisturiser. I have also put in a mini sea salt spray and my tangle teaser to revamp my hair before I get off the plane.

These are lots of little random bits. I got my headphones to watch films or steal my mum or brothers iPods. I have my sunglasses for when we get there and my purse for my money, I decided against my normal one and thought just a small one will do. I have painkillers and plasters which I just thought would be handy to have in my bag for the whole trip. I brought some sucky sweets because my ears get so bad when landing on planes. Does anyone else get that? These really help me.

I basically am taking my whole makeup bag with me. I no its a lot but because we get to New York at the beginning of the day and were planning on getting straight into it, Ive decided its just going to be easier to take it my makeup with me to do on the plane so I Don't have to worry about doing it when we get to the hotel and annoying everyone while they wait for me. I'm just being nice really.

Do you think I've missed anything or have I packed to much? Let me know whats your must haves for flying?

Follow me on twitter and instagram to keep up to date and I'll be doing plenty of blog posts on it when I get back :)

PS' I'm trying a new backgrounds out. Let me no if you like the change?

Makeup Project Pan

I love watching Project Pans on youtube but never thought about giving it ago as I'm pretty good at using things up before buying more. I was looking at my makeup collection and although its not that big I realised that there was a few things in there I never go for or never really tried properly since buying. I have chosen 11 products that I rarely use to focus on over the next month or so. I'm not sure if I will manage to use them all up, but I'm going to try my best to use them all in my everyday makeup routine to make a good dent in them all and decide if they're worth keeping. I hate throwing things away that I've brought so I'm hoping to get through most of these before having to do so.

I have roughly marked where I am on these products so you can see the progress.

Maybeline Dream Fresh BB Cream - I brought this at the beginning of summer and I haven't given it a fair try yet. I've barely used any of it yet so I'm going to try and get through some of it over the next month so I can decided if I like it and if its worth keeping.

Rimmel London Stay Blushed - I do like this but I find it so much more effort to apply than powder so tend not to use it that often. I do really like it in the summer and it makes my cheeks look dewy so want to start using it up before I want to want to throw it away because I'm not using it.

Maybelline  Dream Flawless Nude - I have used this a few times and I always have a different opinion on it. I need to use it more consistently to decide if I like it. Its also quite a light coverage which I prefer in the summer so want to start getting through it now before summers over.

MAC Studio Finish Concealer - I have had this for almost 3 years now and I'm still only half way through. I want to focus on it so that its used up before I have to throw it away because its too old. This is actually really nice so I won't have a problem using this regularly.

Pop Beauty eye shadow Trio - I did only get this is julys Birchbox (here) but as the colours are so warm and shimmery I would like to make a bit of a dent in this pallet before the summers over. I've already finished one so just two more to go. (unfortunately one of them broke in the post) :(

Field day eye shadow pencil and Work the colour eyeshadow pencil - I kind of forgot about these eyeshadow pencils since buying them. I've used them both once and wasn't the biggest fan so didn't try again. I think I need to try again and incorporate them into some different eye looks so I can use them up.

Collections lasting colour in mango tango and Rimmel London Lasting Finish in 37 - Both of these colours are really similar. The only difference is the collections lasting colour is more balmy and Rimmel Londons is quite matte. I do really love both of these but as these are more summery colours I would like to take more advantage of wearing them now while I can.

Avon Mega Effects Mascara in Brown Black - My mum gave this to me as she didn't want it but I didn't realise it was a brown one. Its not my favourite but its ok for the summer when I'm going for a natural look. I've had this before and used it up so quickly so this shouldn't be a problem.

New ID Cosmetics Mascara - I got this free in a magazine. Its not great, but It looks ok on top of the avon mascara. Once I finish the avon I'll just throw this away as it was free and its not that great.

So I am going to give myself until the end of september to see my progress. After that I will decide which products aren't worth keeping and decide if I'll carry on with the others. I am going to aim to try and finish at least 5. I'm not very confident at the moment so wish me luck! 

Have you ever done a project pan? leave your links below if you have.

August Birchbox

Since last months Birchbox was my first and came in a bag, this is my first actual box and its so cute! I was expecting it to be a little bigger which I'm not sure why but it just adds to the cuteness. The patten is gorgeous and the bag!!!! This was worth the money before I even opened it! I liked the stickers as well but I'm not sure if I will use them or not. Can we talk about this bag some more! I can't wait to find a reason to reuse it :) Anyway let get into the box, I have used everything once so have my first impressions on the products as well.

BioNike Defence Tolerance Essential Cleansing Water - £12.20

I wasn't a fan of this. I used it to try and take of my makeup it didn't really take it off, not as much as my makeup remover did anyway. I feel like when you rub it in to your face it just soaks it in and doesn't wipe off. It just wasn't working for me.

Kebelo Clarifying Shampoo - £13.95

I did really like this. I really noticed a difference in the condition of my hair. It looked so really soft and healthy. I think it will last a while to as you only need to use it once a month. I would buy it again after I have run out.

Illamasqua Hydra Veil - £32

I have used this once and fell in love with it straight away, which is rare for me with skin care. It made my skin look so glowy. Its also one of the only products that I've thought it a lot better than the products I'm already using. I am only thinking about buying this one once its done as its so expensive.

Benefit High Beam - £19.50

I have never used a highlighter before so this is completely new to me. I like it a lot as it makes my skin look really glowy. I thought that as its liquid it would be harder blend in but its really easy and makes my skin look more dewy.

Laura Mercier Kohl eye pencil in Black violet - £17.50

I got this out and wasn't sure what to do with it. I have never really been a fan of colour on my eyes. I have tried it though and its quite waxy which I found quite hard to apply but it has lasted really well. It hasn't smudged at all not even on the waterline. My only problem now is how do I make this look good on my face? if anyone has any suggestion let me no because I have no idea how to use colour.

Rituals Rice scrub - £10

I really liked this. Its a really gentle exfoliator but it still feels like its doing something to your skin. It made my skin so soft and smooth after using it. I would love to buy this in full size once I've finished.

Overall I really liked this box and preferred it much more to last months. I would buy 4 out of  the 6 products in full size and am already trying to convince myself out of some of them otherwise its going to be an expensive month :) I'm really impressed with birch box so far and am loving the wide range of products you get.

Whats your favourite product that you've received in this months birchbox? 

July Empties

I feel like realising how much stuff I go through every month justifies me going shopping loads because I seem to go through so much and obviously I need to go out and buy more :) honestly don't no how I manage to do it. Theres a couple of things here I'm just getting rid of because I don't like them, but everything else I have managed to use up this month.

Garnier Hand Repair - I did like this hand cream. I started using it to us it up as I have a few hand creams, but this one grew on me. I think its better in the summer when I don't have really dry hands. I would repurchase this again once I get rid of a few more in my collection.

Vaseline Spray and Go - I love this so much. Its so convenient in the morning to just spray on and get dressed as it absorbs really quickly and is also really moisturising. Its my new goto moisturiser. 

Simple Oil Balancing Exfoliating Wash - This is nice and even though its an exfoliating wash it wasn't harsh or drying on my skin.

Sure Deodorant - This is good deodorant.

Simple kind to skin day cream - I do like this, and it has SPF which I've only just decided I should probably have in my skin care routine. The only problem I have is that the product dries up around the lid and gets everywhere which is really annoying when I'm going away. Other than that it's really nice.

Superdrug Peel-off mask - I haven't actually finished this. but I stopped using it when I actually started getting into masks as it does nothing compared to my others. So I'm just decided to get rid now.

Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser - I did like this. But I am still new to primers so don't have a lot to compare to. I don't think I would buy this again anytime soon as I wasn't to try some others first.

Fudge Urban Hair Art - This was basically awful. I only tried it once but I sprayed it on to a little section of my hair and it made it feel really gross and tangled, which took me so long to brush it out. Once I brushed it out the colour had pretty much gone. To be fair though before I started bushing it out the colour was quite pigmented and as I have brown hair I was quite impressed with that. But I won't be using this again.

Max Factor Lipfinity Lasting Lip Tint - I used to love these so much and had pretty much every colour. This one is dried up now though, and I'm trying to use up the others as there all so old. I'm not even sure if they sell these anymore but I loved them for a base for lipstick.

Wilkinsons Cotton Balls - I get through these so quickly!

Superdrug Cotton Wool Pads - I actually didn't like these. I prefer the wilkinsons ones which I thought was weird as they are so much cheaper, but I'm not complaining.

My Little Star Baby Wipes - My baby wipes come in so handy especially as I have a new white desk which isn't really ideal for makeup and stuff.

I can't believe how much I manage to get through each month. Let me know whats the one product is that you feel like your replacing every month?

June empties