What's In My Bag

My blog version of the ever popular "What's In My Bag" videos on YouTube. Although I feel that despite what the "gurus" say about not bragging about the Chanel/Givenchy/Gucci/Louis bags the banks allow them to use, it's ALL about bragging.

I don't know if you'll find this post interesting, but I was certainly fascinated by the contents of my own bag.

My Friis & Company 2-3 year-old bag that I bought at Zando. It's a bottle green bag that goes with maybe one thing in my wardrobe, but because I'm too lazy to change bags with every outfit, it's become my everyday bag.

It's soft and poofy and comfy to carry around. Other that what I emptied out there's usually a phone or 3, an iPad or 3 and water bottles living inside there too.

Who walks around with this many nail polishes in their bag? 3 are now and not been used yet. 

1) Sparitual Lacquer in French Tip Creme

2) essence effect nail polish in 21 Icy Fairy

3) essence colour & go 186 Polka Holga

4) LA Girl Metal in Sterling Silver

5) LA Girl 3D Effects GNL307 Sparkle Ruby

6) LA Girl Matte GNL530 White

7) Passion Nail Lacquer - This is one of those Dischem Bargain Bin special polishes so it doesn't have a colour name or number. It's a dark navy base with emerald/turqoise/gold duo chrome fine, fine glitter.

8) Compact mirror - gift from hubby from China

9) Mr Price Home notebook

10) SuperRubgy tickets for the Blue Bulls vs Stormers match from a couple of weeks ago.

11) El cheapo headphones from Primark

12) Cerruti wallet - gift from hubby from Switzerland

13) Nu Health Food Cafe menu

14) Pen swiped from a hotel.

15) Empty Catrice brush pouch. I don't remember the reason for having this in my bag, if there was a reason at all.

16) Cotton pads. I had a grand plan to do my nails in the car while waiting for the kids at school.

17) Happy Valley menu. We've been going to this little Chinese takaway since we moved to Joburg. 

18) Receipts that should have been thrown away.

19) School AGM agenda.

20) Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry Me (Can be bought here online.)

21) Tear drop hoop earrings from Woolworths. (Not available online but check out others here.)

22) Clinique Superbalm Moisturising Gloss sample in Currant

23) Catrice Ultimate Shine in 060 Teddy Brown

24) essence studio nails sweet mini file

25) Sheraton Hotel nail file 

26) essence kajal pencil in 04 white

27) smashbox Always Sharp Waterproof Kohl Liner in Raven

28) Clinique even better dark spot correcting hand cream SPF 15 sample

29) Revlon Ultra HD Lipstick in 899 HD Snapdragon (Just been released. I don't think it's available online yet. It's not even on the Revlon SA website yet.)

30) LA Colours Chunky Lip Pencil in CCL588 Wine - Don't bother with this. It's horrible. I bought it because I thought it was LA Girl which I much rather prefer. Bought at Dischem.

31) Botanical Collection Tropical Hand & Nail Cream with Vitamin E Oil. Excellent! Buy this!

32) Elastic hair tie from a pack of a lot form Clicks. I don't like the type with the metal piece. I think I bought this because it was all that was in stock at the time.

33) UVLAB High Performance Sport Screen SPF 50.

34) essence crystal eyeliner in 07 Blue Heaven

unlabelled - Clicks Sensitive Baby Wipes (10 pack) Very, very necessary if you have kids. And a husband.

The reason there's not a lot of lippies is because I was looking for a few lipsticks and glosses so I dug around all of my bags, took them all out and put them where they belong. Then these made an escape and found their way back into this bag. The Revlon HD lipstick in Snapdragon was bought on yesterday and it still has the seal on. Review up soon.

Hope you found this voyeurism somewhat interesting. I like watching these types of videos, even though I'm convinced that it's done more to show off the bag than anything else.

Anything else you'd like to see...?

Retail Therapy - Clicks Haul

Yesterday was one of those days that I just needed to escape for a little while and what better (and cheaper) way to do that than to indulge in some retail therapy. I had literally completely run out of shampoo and my conditioner bottle was being shamefully manhandled in what was becoming a futile attempt at extracting the last little drips. I'd say that's as good a reason as any for that retail holiday, isn't it?

So off to Clicks I went...

... and then this happened. Not particularly splurge-worthy in the greater scheme of things, but considering I went in for 2 things and came out with 9...

The reason I went to the shop, like I said, was for shampoo and conditioner. I wanted to try the Toni & Guy range, but the Clicks I visited didn't stock the it so I just bought whatever was on special. I don't have loyalty to any brand or haircare line, and there are a one or two brands that I will avoid because I haven't had success with their products in the past. So for the most part, I just buy what's on special, which in this case was Schwartzkopf Gliss Hair Repair With Liquid Keratin.

R42.35 each (Promotional price) 250ml shampoo and conditioner at Clicks

As far as first impressions go, I think you can make a decision as to whether you will use a shampoo or conditioner again after the first try. It either works or it doesn't. I used both the shampoo and conditioner last night and I was immediately taken with the scent. I'm not very good at describing scents so forgive me if I'm vague/totally off the mark with this description. I'd say it's fruity, floral and perfumey, I didn't find it at all to be offensive and the scent lingered until maybe late this morning. Bear in mind though that I didn't rinse the conditioner out of my hair, I usually leave it in until my next shower. It didn't do anything WOW to my hair, but didn't make it onto my never-to-be-bought-again list. It didn't weigh my hair down, my hair had bounce, maybe not as much shine as the previous shampoo and conditioner that I used, but I'll give this a decent go before giving a proper review.

I usually use a mask instead of a conditioner, and because I don't heat style my hair, I'll use one that will provide some sort of control for my frizzy, curly locks. I bought the Schwartzkopf Gliss Satin Smooth Anti-Frizz Mask for shits and giggles really. No rhyme or reason. I tend to go for products for dry/damaged/unruly hair and choosing this one made sense.

R79.95 200ml at Clicks (normal price, I think)

 I haven't tried it yet but you'll be sure to hear from me soon. I'll link that review to this post as soon as it's available.

Next not on my list was the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat. 

R79.95 @ Clicks

 I was looking for the Mirror/Mega/Diamond Shine Top Coat, but they didn't have it in stock, so Insta-Dri it is.

I've successfully used up or gotten rid of almost all of my mascaras and the one that I'm currently using is on it's last legs. I've never used Maybelline mascaras before so I thought I'd give The Rocket Volum' Express a go because I've heard only good things about it. Or I may have heard bad things too, but I couldn't remember them, so I may have just bought a dud. I'll let you know... I usually get free samples of mascara in my Clinique Bonus Time freebies and buy one or two to take me through to the next Bonus Time, so this purchase was necessary.

R124.95 @ Clicks

Giant, spiky brush usually means vavavoom lashes.

Maybelline Baby Lips, you either love them or hate them and I kinda like them enough to have tried more. It's basically a lip balm, some are tinted, some have SPF and are supposed to be very hydrating, moisturising and long lasting. I bought the Cherry Me variant a while ago and it's found a permanent home in my car. It provides a decent amount of hydration which is essential for our dry winters and just a hint of colour and shine. Long lasting...? Maybe not so much but my lips were not drier than before as some lip balms can do, but that wasn't a deal-breaker for me. I wanted to go for one that didn't have any colour payoff so that my boys could use it too.

R24.99 on the shelf, R19.95 at the till. Nice surprise! @ Clicks

Intense Care with SPF 20

Hydrate

Garnier has released a BB Cream Eye Roll-On following the success of the normal BB Creams. It's basically a BB Cream in a roller ball tube and is available in light and medium. 

It claims to have 5 benefits for the eye area:

1) Hides dark circles.

2) Reduces the appearance of bags.

3) Fine lines appear less visible.

4) Illuminates

5) Hydrates

The rollerball applicator is intended to reduce the need for rubbing the delicate eye area.

First of all, can we talk about the ridiculous amount of packaging on this product?

Is it really necessary for a box as big as that? The actual product is the size of a lipstick... How about a vacuum seal?

Cool-to-the-skin rollerball applicator.

R69.95 exclusively available at Clicks.

I chose the darker of the two shades. I hope it won't be too light but for the eye area you do generally go a bit lighter. I use the dark shade in the facial BB cream.

And last but not least... anti-perspirant. 

R43.95 @ Clicks

I used Mitchum gel anti-perspirant for years and one day my body plain and simple rejected it. It just didn't work. So I jumped between Dove and Garnier a-p roll-ons but thought I'd give the Mitchum Invisible Solid a try. It claims 48 hour protection, as did the gel variety which I haven't put to the test because I'd take a shower at least once in 48 hours. But if the situation ever arises then at least I'll know I'm covered. I know that there are people who are anti-anti-perspirant, I am not one of them despite being aware of the effects of long-term use. I choose my battles. With dry underarms.

More indepth reviews to follow.

Take care.