It’s back to the grind and I am still trying to adjust to my new job. Trying to get used to the office work wear, pumps (instead of my comfy sandals), having to be stuck in one building for 9 hours straight, office politics. I’ve done my best to fill my work bag with a few little luxuries to brighten the work day but I’ve still been missing quite a few office necessities that I keep forgetting to pack. This problem was miraculously solved today as I received the best package from my sister: The Back To The Office Survival Kit. Cutest thing ever. I now have everything I need to survive the work week.
First up, Inside My Work Bag: I amazed even myself that all this fit inside, but you can see how I was missing quite a few survival necessities
LV Epi Jasmin Purse, LV Damier Azur Alexandra Wallet, Paul & Joe Makeup Bag, Miscellaneous Candies, Chewing Gum, Splenda packets, Red Moleskin Notebook, L’Occitane Hand Cream
Le Metier Marchesa Card, Chanel Rouge Coco, Chanel Rouge Allure Laque, Chanel Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss, Edward Bess Lipliner + Compact Rouge, Laura Mercier Mini Brushes, Chantecaille Lip Chic, MAC Mini Face Brush, Chanel Powder Foundation, Paul & Joe Lip Lacquer, Lancome Juicy Tube
What came in the mail today, best package ever! All the practical things I need for office survival (instead of the million lipglosses I crammed into my makeup bag):
Close ups of just a few of my favorite things she sent:
(My sister can read my mind, I was thinking about this same thing the other day)
To my dear sister: thanks a million 🙂 All the little notes made my day and brought a smile that washed away all the stress and anxiety from the office. I only wish she lived near me instead of hours and hours away.
Working girls – what are your work-bag essentials? What kinds of things do you do or bring with you to help get you through the week?
I’m the type of girl who changes my purse on a regular basis. This LV Vavin PM was my first Louis purchase back when I started my first job in 2003. I like the shape because it’s simple and streamlined. I’m always surprised how much I can pack into it considering how small it is. I do wish it was slightly bigger, but it works for me. LV had a bigger version, but both styles have now been discontinued.
Inside my LV Vavin PM:
LV Alexandra Wallet Paul & Joe Makeup Bag Trader Joe Candies Sunglasses Mini Calendar L’Occitane Hand Cream iPhone J.Crew fall preview mailer booklet
Inside makeup bag:
Edward Bess Nude Satin Lipgloss Edward Bess Eyeliner Edward Bess Afterglow Highlighter Chanel DPF Tender Bisque Chanel Rouge Allure Laque in Ming Aquaphor Diorshow Mascara Chanel Cancun Aqualumiere
Last week I had one of those days where I had a million things to do during the day with no time to stop by home before a special occasion dinner. I packed my car with my laptop, papers, textbooks, backpack, purse, a change of clothes and an extra pair of shoes (to transition from day to night) but neglected to pack my makeup bag and brushes to touch up.
Luckily, I had my Edward Bess Compact Rouge in Island Rose (for lips/cheeks) and a mini Diorshow mascara tucked away in my backpack which was enough to freshen my look a bit. But it made me realize I needed to put together an emergency beauty kit to keep in my car for those times I need a last-minute touch up or days I forget to bring my makeup bag with me.
I looked to one of my favorite beauty books by Trish McEvoy “The Power of Makeup” for her tips on what to include in a beauty emergency kit. This is what I put together for my own using my trusty quilted planner:
Trish McEvoy Power of Makeup Simply Chic Page (Pink Innocence Lip + Cheek, Nude Innocence Lip + Cheek, Golden Peach AOC, Peony Pink Blush, Sand/Pink Shimmer/Snow/Blackberry Eyeshadows)
Laura Mercier Eyemakeup Remover
Edward Bess Love Always Deep Shine Lipgloss
NARS Luxor Multiple
Diorshow Mini Mascara
MAC Fix + (travel size)
Chanel DPF Compact
Chanel Spices Quadra Eyeshadow
MAC Cremestick Lipliners in Sublime Culture and Beurre
Chanel Ebene Waterproof Eyeliner
Laura Mercier Brown Copper Eye Kohl
Chantecaille Crystalline Gloss
Shu Uemura Tweezers
A bunch of mini brushes
My so-called “emergency kit” turned out to be quite a bit more than I intended. It’s probably the equivalent to a travel kit or a weekend-away kit. Yes, I am rather high maintenance, so this will probably be a work in progress. But at least I know that by having this tucked away in my car, I will always be well prepared to touch up, redo or refresh my makeup and not have to worry about finding the time to try and get back to the house before a last minute appointment or spur of the moment evening out.
Do you have a beauty emergency kit? What do you have inside yours?
Trish McEvoy’s latest release, The Bronze Collection, is trickling into stores and I am really excited to report that the Irresistible Petal Lip Gloss that was in the Turquoise Petite Python Planner is available separately!
Products featured include: Dual Matte Bronzer in Medium, Mistake-Proof Sheer Application Brush, Classic Lip Color in Natural, Irresistible Petal Lipgloss.
Check out her website, TrishMcEvoy.com – The Bronze Collectionfor more details on each item. Even more exciting – Trish has done a video on the look which can be viewed on her Trish McEvoy FaceBook Fan Page. I just discovered her FB resource and it has a lot of great features! I like the look on the model from the video, although she’s quite a bit darker in skintone than I am, it’s nice to see how the products look on her.
And even better, another view for their promotional photo on the collection. I love that the look is simple and gorgeous and fresh. Photo from Trish McEvoy:
I found some of the items at Saks – the display unit was up, but the products were not yet featured for testing. Thanks to my iPhone, I was to check online for the product names and my SA kindly checked the drawers to see if they had any of the colors in-stock. They had the lipstick and lipgloss. I know Trish products pretty well now, so I didn’t need to test them out before buying. Seeing them in the tubes was enough for me to say, “yes, one of each please!”
Top: Irresistible Petal Bottom: Natural
* Natural Lipstick ($23) is a new formula which is more matte than her other lipsticks. According to her video, this is the first of her new Classic Lip Color line which will consist of shades that are here to stay. It’s a natural pinky your-lips-but-better color. If you found the Chanel Rouge Coco in Mademoiselle too warm for you, I think the Trish McEvoy Natural might be a similar but less warm alternative for you to check out.
* Irresistible Petal ($25) is the third color in her Irresistible Lip Gloss formula (Irresistible reviewed back last July & Irresistible Pink, tried but not purchased) which all have a reflective sparkle quality. These have quite a bit more shimmer with tiny micro-sparkles than her regular lipglosses. I found Irresistible to be just as sparkly as MAC Dazzleglasses, but the newest Irresistible Petal has a more subdued sparkle. It’s a sheer light pink sparkle which has a faint minty scent and smooth glossy finish. The gloss gives me really full lips.
Here they are both swatched on my lips:
I wrote about the Python Planner set from Blue Mercury back during Christmas. The set was intended as a gift, but luckily I got to keep the actual python print planner since my friend liked the regular black quilted petite planner instead 🙂
I have too many planners to count in various sizes. The pros to using these include the fact that they keep you organized, they help you sort all your makeup items and tools, and it’s convenient to carry if you have a larger purse or for travel. The downside is that since it’s designed for Trish McEvoy products, you have to find pan eyeshadows/blushes to fit in her page to make full use of the planner. But if you’re not a 100% Trish user, not to worry, you can still fit quite a bit of other items from other brands into the sets.
This is what I have in mine today:
This is everything I was able to fit into the planner and there was still plenty more room to fit more stuff. Includes a variety of mini brushes, Chanel mascara, Paul & Joe lipliner, Edward Bess Afterglow Highlighter, Trish Eye Base + Lipstick + Luminizer + Petite Page + Lipliner + Lipgloss, Laura Mercier cream eyeshadow, Le Metier eyeliner etc.
How the planner fits neatly into my purse:
My purse contents (I have no idea why there is Splenda in my bag):
Overall thoughts: Both are pretty for spring. The Natural lipstick is indeed very natural looking. It gives me my-lips-but-better with a soft rosey tint. If you want more color, Trish definitely has some brighter lipsticks which are flattering and have a pretty finish. The lipgloss is very sheer, but I love the way it adds a bit of sparkle and it smells and feels great.