Interested in Guest blogging?

I thought I would take the time and ask all you lovely readers and browsers of this blog if you or anyone you may know would be interested in contributing to the "Beauty Bag" series. I've had such great success with some uber fabulous and stylish bloggers sharing their beauty finds and secrets with us here, and I've received great feedback from readers telling me about how much they appreciate all the recommendations and tips they read in the "beauty bag" series! This makes me so happy!! I love utilizing this blog as a way for all us girls to come together and share with each other and help each other out. So this leads me to my main point, since the new year there have been a lack of posts for this great series. So I am calling all bloggers...any of you want to share your beauty bag just email me: www.wallpaper.homeblog@yahoo.ca

Looking forward to hearing from you girls!!

Beauty Bag: Laura, Gracefully Searching

List of Products:

Bag: The body shop

Mascara: Maybelline  Great Lash

Blush Cream and Bronzer: Joe Fresh- Blush Cream Peach Joe Fresh

Foundation, Under Eye Cream, Powder: Mac

Silver Palette: Prescriptives Colorscope Palette 

Blush: Cargo Blush Highlighter Pink

Lip Stain: Joe Grapefruit

Eye Shadow: Expert Wear Eyeshadow Mocha Motion

Highlighter: Bobby Brown Shimmer Brick Compact Pink

Can I possibly choose two things I couldn't live without, because I am having a hard time choosing between mascara and blush cream (that doubles as a lip cream)! These two beauty products are absolutely essential, and make me feel fresh and approachable!!

I love the process of getting ready, I like to change up my eye makeup, or lip color to reflect the way I am feeling!! If I am feeling like going au natural I like to wear a simple gloss like Smith’s Rosebud Salve, if I want to create something a little more current and funky I like to wear something like Pink Poodle by Mac, or it is always fun to experiment with something on trend (with a very low price point) from Joe Fresh!

Most importantly I think it is important to take your natural beauty and just emphasize it- don’t hide it!!

the beautiful Laura

Thanks so much Liz!!! Love, love, love this blog- this has been so lovely!!

Always Stay Graceful,

Laura xoxo

Thanks to the fabulous Laura of Gracefully Searching for sharing with us!

Beauty Bag: Sara, A Dose of Pretty

Hello Wallpaper Readers!

I am delighted to be here with you today.

I am so flattered that Liz asked me to guest post

on her fabulous Beauty Bag series.

My current beauty bag is a vintage clutch from Etsy.

I actually got the idea from Christine of Bijou and Boheme

whom Liz featured back in December.

Here are the products in my beauty bag.

Starting with my #1 cosmetic:

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat.

It is an eye highlighter and I must wear it everyday.

 And here are the rest in no particular order:

2. Clinique Instant Pore Minimizer

3. Elizabeth Arden 8-hour Cream. It’s awesome!

This stuff is great for super dry skin and a bad sunburn.

4. Rimmel eye shadows

5. YSL eye shadows

6. Cover Girl eye liner

7. Loreal eye mascara

8. No. 7 eye shadow cream – love it. It helps

your eye makeup last longer.

9. Clinique eyebrow shaper. This lasts forever.

10. Nars blush

11. YSL lip gloss – for those date nights.

12. Brushes

13. My most recent addition to my beauty bag is the Mor lip balm.

I absolutely love it!

 And perfumes, unfortunately I am really sensitive to strong scents.

I get horrible headaches so

I have to be very selective when I buy them.

Two of my favorite ones are Chloe and Donna Karen Cashmere Mist.

They are soft and airy.

I am really tempted to buy some classics like Chanel just for looks.

But I haven’t done that yet.

I hope you enjoyed peeking in my beauty bag.

Thank you Liz for having me.

Have a fabulous day!

Sara

Thanks to the fabulous Sara of A Dose of Pretty for sharing her beauty bag with us!! 

Beauty Bag: Wendy, Desire to Decorate

Hello Wallpaper readers! Isn’t this fun? I love this series, who knew that I too would join in all the fun one day – great timing too – read on!

Truth be told, I don’t have a makeup bag but I do have a makeup drawer. Knowing January was ‘organization’ month in most stores, I was on the hunt for something pretty to organize my makeup drawer. While I was originally thinking pretty pink paper lining with a clear acrylic tray, then I received a HomeSense gift card and that’s where I changed it up.

This is what my drawer looks like…

Since high school, putting on makeup has been a part of my everyday get ready routine. Never a lot of makeup but makeup none the less. I’ve always loved to try new techniques, colour combinations and change it up based on the occasion.

Today, my everyday is moisturiser, foundation, powder, a little blush, mascara and lip gloss. When I’m going into the office I add shadow and sometimes liner. Although my lip gloss isn’t in my drawer, I have them all over the house and in my coat, purse and car! I buy in bulk at Bath & Body Works, love that they’re now in Canada and in the mall near me to boot! My other favourite lip gloss is Bare Necessity by MAC.

Here’s what my everyday looks like…

Moisturizer: Right now I’m using Olay but more often use Viche or L’oreal. If I don’t have anything on my face it gets really itchy so moisturizer is a must for me.

Foundation & Powder: The L’oreal true match line of products is fantastic. I had someone help me out the 1^st time and it’s been a breeze ever since. In the summer, I tend to move up a shade because I tan so easily and my original shade begins to make me look pale. I interchange L’oreal true match powder with bareMinerals every now and then. They both work well.

Eye shadow: A few years ago I won a MAC contest and received a box full of goodies, $400 value, so most of my brushes are MAC as are my eye shadows. When they’re finished I simply purchase a refill and pop it into the holder.

Mascara: CoverGirl Lash Blast is CoverGirl’s newest mascara. It works… but it has a fault. The brush doesn’t taper enough at the end so it’s a little difficult to get the little corners lashes. I often use Smashbox which is great however, CoverGirl’s Lash Blast is a nice budget-friendly deal available at Shopper’s Drug Mart - and Walmart and the Real Canadian Super Store, where I’m more likely to be at some point throughout the week.

Eyeliner: I’m using Rimmel right now. My other go to is a black paste from MAC used with an angle brush, works wonderfully.

So there you have it...my beauty collection. As you can see I'm not attached to one product line-good or bad, that's how it is for me. In an effort to keep my skin clear, I drink a lot of water and I wash my face in the morning and before bed with Pureté Thermale 3-in-1 One Step Cleanser. Oh,and the one item I can't live without...while it's not pretty it's a necessity, it's moisturizer (and lip gloss), especially at this time of year.

Thanks to Wendy of Desire to Decorate for sharing with us!!

Beauty Bag: LadySmith, Cashmere & Carrot Sticks

Hi there! I’m LadySmith from over at Cashmere & Carrot Sticks.  I hope that I do not disappoint with my installment of this wonderful Beauty Bag Series by Liz … but I would be lying if I presented a posh makeup bag and made out like I had a daily makeup routine and a whole pile of products stashed in my purse. The truth is, most mornings my beauty routine looks something like this:

A bit luckier and I might even get a wash cloth and some cleanser thrown in.

Pretty glamorous isn’t it? Nothing beats some running water and a toothbrush for this busy stay-at-home Mom of two.

I’m somewhat of a natural gal. Love makeup, love to look my best, but don’t like the idea of feeling “made up” every day. During the past couple of years though, thanks partly to the book, “The 5 Minute Face” by Carmindy (from the show “What Not To Wear”), I have discovered some amazing essential makeup pieces and developed an easy makeup routine that leaves me feeling good about myself, but still natural and not too “made up”.  Of course there is the more spiced up version for evenings out and events, but for this post, we’ll stick with the essentials.

My Essentials (from left to right):

1.       CLINIQUE Dramatically Different moisturizing Lotion (my Mom used it and what can I say, it’s a proven staple)

2.       Bliss Hand Cream (my hand’s get sooo dry in the winter so one is tucked in my purse too)

3.       Some big awesome brush I found in my Mom’s makeup bag

4.       MAC Select Sheer/Pressed Powder in NW25 (for my shiny nose)

5.       Nivea Pure Invisible Anti Perspirant (Amazing! Actually works, really is clear and doesn’t leave any residue)

6.       MAC Lipstick in Amplified FAST PLAY (This is my new go-to shade I can just throw on any time and not worry about whether it matches my look. It’s perfect.)

7.       MAC Powder Blush in CUBIC Satin

8.       MAC Cream Colour Base (Highlighter) in HUSH FROST

9.       AVEDA Purifying Cream Cleanser

10.   AVEDA tinted moisture spf 15 in ASPEN (seriously, where have you been all of my life? I have never liked foundation – too thick and obvious. This on the other hand evens out the red in my face and allows me to still feel natural)

11.   Clinique Mascara or whatever other mascara I have around – Lancome, Maybeline, etc.

pretty as a peach LadySmith

And the one item I could not live without? It’s a tossup – I’ve got an oldie and a recently discovered.  Oldie - Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion.  Good for moisturizing after the shower, even on the face in a pinch. Another product passed down from my Mom. Trusted and true.

My new staple – Lancome’s makeup remover.  I used to hesitate to wear mascara on a daily basis because it was always so hard to get off. This makeup remover is magic and not greasy at all! Definitely recommend.

The makeup bag is such a personal thing and usually used in the privacy of one’s bathroom so no one gets to see what’s in it. What a treat to hear everyone’s secrets and the products they swear by. Thank you Liz for letting me be a part of this wonderful series!  What a great idea. 

Beauty Bag: Lindsay, The Pursuit of Style

I'm excited that Liz asked me to share a peek into my make up bag but hope you won't find it too boring since I'm not much of a product junkie! Instead, I tend to stick with tried and true favorites and have been using some of the following products for years. Here are some of my current essentials:

• Essie Polish in Lollipop- the perfect red!
• Covergirl&Olay Simply Ageless Concealer- I've tried a million expensive under eye concealers but keep coming back to this drugstore brand. Creamy, moisturizing, and has great coverage!
• NARS Orgasm Blush- it's won enough awards I don't need to say much about this one!
• Kate Spade Twirl- a new addition that I can't stop spritzing.
• Frederic Fekkai Glossing Cream- great at taming those fly aways.
• Moroccan Oil- does wonders for my thick hair!
• NARS Super Orgasm Lip Gloss
• L'Oreal Voluminous Waterproof Mascara- a favorite since middle school. For some reason I prefer the waterproof.
• Too Faced Sun Bunny Bronzing Powder- I can always use a hint of color!
• Stila Liplaze in Candy- I'm addicted to these. I ask for the holiday set every year for Christmas.
• Shu Uemura Eylash Curler- the one thing I can't live without!
• Stila Custom Color Blush- another new addition, this blush changes color to match your skin tone!

I hope you've enjoyed nosing around my make up bag and a big thank you to Liz for asking me to participate!

Thanks so much to the fab Lindsay of The Pursuit of Style for sharing!


Don't forget to enter the GIVEAWAY if you haven't yet!! Just 3 more days left...

Beauty Bag: Jackie, Sweetie Pie Style

Hi there! Jackie from Sweetie Pie Style here to share with you what is inside my makeup bag. I am so thrilled Liz asked me to participate as I love this series!  Girly delights are so fun!

Here we go...

Makeup bag-Juicy Couture.  Gifted to me by my best friend last year.

My go-to all-in-one makeup palette-Benefit's "Glowla".  I use the eyeshadows and blush on a daily basis. (Although I am not a big fan of their mascara)

Lipgloss-I'm not much of a lipstick gal, but I love me a good lipgloss.  I have so many that are all pretty much the same natural lipcolor shade.  I just grab whichever one is closest and swipe it on.

Mascara-I am a fan of Covergirl's Lash Blast in Blackest Black.  If I want to be more fancy I will curl my eyelashes with a Shu Uemura curler.  

Powder-I love Covergirl's trublend minerals loose face powder.  It has great coverage and the tiniest bit of shimmer that really makes you glow.

Base-I use Benefit's The POREfessional as a base underneath my powder.  I dab it on my forehead, nose and under my eyes.  It is great at filling in tiny wrinkles and pores, and helps your makeup go on super smooth.

Blush-Benefit has a great line of blushes. In addition to the one in my "Glowla" set, I have "Throb" and "Sugarbomb" (pictured)

Perfume-My signature scent is Lollia's Wish No. 22.  It's a delicious blend of jasmine, vanilla, and other fancy stuff! Go ahead and borrow it if you like ;)

Nail polish-9 times out of 10 I reach for OPI's "You Don't Know Jacques" when I paint my nails.

I hope you enjoyed this peek inside my makeup bag!


Thanks so much to Jackie for sharing with us!!

Beauty Bag: Melissa, Hare Styling

I was thrilled when Liz asked me to participate in her Beauty Bag series. I love her beautiful blog and was very excited to meet a fellow Canadian blogger! I don’t wear a lot of makeup but I definitely have a few essentials. Here’s a sneak peak into my beauty bag.

Nail polish: I rarely go without nail polish. Freshly painted nails are one of my favourite things and right now I love these two colours. OPI- Bring On The Bling and Joe Fresh- Jade. Bring On The Bling is the perfect accessory for a weekend outfit!

Mascara: I have light eyelashes so I absolutely love Loreal’s Carbon Black mascara. I’ve been using this mascara for as far back as I can remember. I’ve tried other brands and nothing compares to it.

Bag: I love the colour of my Sephora makeup bag. It was a gift from my friend Kim and it’s the perfect size for all my essentials.

Undereye concealer: I LOVE Lancome’s Undereye Concealer. I apply it every morning to freshen up my eyes. I have to admit, I also use it to cover any other small blemishes. Since I don’t use foundation, this is the perfect light alternative. Did I mention it’s also waterproof? Love!

Night cream: Don’t laugh. I’m 28 and I use deep-set wrinkle repair. I have fine lines on my forehead and I’m absolutely obsessed with getting rid of them. I even went so far as to cut bangs! Yes, I agree that this obsession is silly. Hey, isn’t it better to be proactive? I must admit that I really like L’Oreal’s Advanced Revitalift night cream. It goes on very light and you only need a little bit to make your skin feel hydrated.

Eye shadow: I bought Smashbox eye shadow in Champagne last year for our wedding. I absolutely love the light glow that it gives. You can also add a dab on your cheeks to highlight them (this was a little trick that the makeup artist taught me).

Cheeks and lips: I don’t wear a lot of lipstick (except for a recent RED adventure) but this Tipsy Tarte from Sephora is the perfect tint for both lips and cheeks. I love that it’s two in one!

Brushes: Since its winter, I’m only really using my Posh eye shadow brush from Sephora. I’ve included my Quo bronzer brush which is a staple in the summer months. Right now I mostly use a pinch of pink of my cheeks, rather than an all over bronzer. If you’re looking for a great bronzer, I recommend Physicians Formula in a pearl finish. This gives you the best summer glow!

Which one could I not live without? I can’t pick just one! It definitely has to be mascara and nail polish.

Finally, something I recently tried - bright red lipstick!

 It was fun but I might stick with clear gloss. :)

Thanks to the uber stylish and gorgeous Melissa from Hare Styling  for sharing!!

Beauty Bag: Sundeep, Designwali

Hello Wallpaper readers,

I'm Sundeep from Designwali and am absolutely thrilled that Liz asked me to join her Beauty bag series. Without a doubt, I'm a true make up loving girl and have enjoyed reading all the beauty posts from fellow bloggers. I'm a believer in using products that put your best face forward - everyday. Here is what's in my magic bag:

1.MAC Studio Finish Concealer: I don't leave home without this baby. It has great consistency & covers all those 'problem' spots.

2. Smashbox Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder: This stuff is amazing. Great coverage and texture. You don't even know you have it on and your skin feels so soft. I wish they had a mini version for my purse.

3. MAC Sheertone "Breezy" blush: Just the thing you need to give you that 'lovely glow'.

4. Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner: This is drugstore brand extraordinaire. You look polished without looking like a racoon 8 hours later.

5. L'OREAL Voluminous Mascara: Meh, living with this for now, but I'm always on the look out for mascara that gives you those jaw dropping lashes.

6. MAC Prep+Prime: Absolute must have for any of you lipstick wearing junkies out there. Keeps your lips soft, but more importantly, your lipstick NEVER bleeds. Best product ever.

7. MAC lip liners & lipsticks: Yes, I love lipstick. You'll rarely ever catch me without it on. I have an assortment of colours and as one makeup artist once told me, "brown gals should not wear brown lipstick". That rule kinda works for me, my current colour collection includes MAC Mystic, Rebel, Hang-up and Verve just to name a few. I've thrown in the drugstore L'oreal 809 for good measure.

8. Benefit Eyebrow Kit: I once had an 'eye-brow lady' (aka beautician at Indian salon who threads your eyebrows instead of waxing and/or tweezing) almost thread my whole eyebrow off. I have thin and sparse eyebrows to begin with so you can imagine the trauma. As a result, an emergency eyebrow solution was required and this little kit was it. It includes eyebrow shadow, a cream base & mini tweezer to keep your eyebrows looking at their best at all times. It saved me.

9. Coach Makeup bag: Just big enough to hold the essentials. Love the colour.

10. Not in my photo, but good skin care is essential. You only have one face - and my motto is to keep it at its best. 

Thanks Liz for inviting me. It has been a delight to share my makeup madness with your readers.

Thanks to the gorgeous Sundeep for sharing, I have to say when I met her at the Steven and Chris show I remember thinking what flawless skin she had, and I was so excited when she agreed to participate and share her beauty bag and makeup secrets!

Beauty Bag: Janice, Life begins at thirty ,right?

Hey everyone! I'm so "chuffed" (as my mother-in-law would say) to be a part of this great Beauty Bag segment on Liz's blog! It is actually kind of funny - I buy a lot of makeup and beauty products, but I actually don't use that many on a day to day basis. I have a few old favourites, but generally I go in cycles where one product gets everyday use, and then gets put away when something new comes along! I'm so fickle :-)

Anyways - since it would take forever to see ALL of the stuff (or "junk", as my husband would say), I put together a bag of what I've been using these days for your viewing pleasure.

 And a quick peek inside...

 And here is everything all together:

#1 - Wonderbar! Have you heard of this? It is a teeny tiny bar of soap that is like a miracle worker! Basically, you pay a lot of money for a small, hotel sized bar of soap and you use it like a mask. Lather, rub on face, let dry (while you are brushing your teeth or something), and then rinse off. Finish up with some basic moisturizer and voila!  If you read the reviews, you'll see this little bar has been known to drastically change troubled skin and even heal scars.

#2 - "Hello Flawless" by Benefit in Fair Ivory (yes, I'm super white) - this is a pressed powder that I recently picked up at Shoppers Drug Mart. I have melasma on my forehead (like clusters of freckles) that I don't love, so I use this to cover it up. Gives me coverage without feeling like a ghost.  Plus I can use it just on my trouble areas and it blends with the rest of my skin.

#3 Laura Mercier "Caviar" Eye Liner - this stuff is the greatest!! It is an eyeliner you put on with a thin, angled brush. Add a little water, make a little paste, and put it on UNDER your eyelashes. This is called "tightlining" for the newbies out there. Basically, you line the part of your eyelid where the eyelashes hit your lid - here is a video for those of you who are interested http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sgr3d4Yqiwg

#4 - Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Eyeliner in Violet Ink - I use this when I don't use #3 - it is a gel eyeliner that you put on with a brush so I find that it is gentler on my eyes than other eyeliners.

#5 - Bobbi Brown Limited Edition Crystal Eye Palette - I was lucky enough to receive this as a gift from a good friend and the colours are so fun!  You can go more subtle for work and then do it up a bit when you go out. PLUS it comes with a little brush (not one of those sponge applicators that usually stink) - so it feels very high end :-)

#6 Nars Blush in Orgasm - I swear I was the last person to hear about this blush. Colour works on almost any skin tone and has a slight shimmer to it which I love.

And finally...

#7 - Diorshow Mascara - I know everyone says there is no difference between expensive and 'cheap' mascaras - but I fully see one! I love this mascara - no clumps, keeps my lashes long and natural looking while still making them stand out a bit more. I've tried going cheaper, but haven't loved any as much as this!

The one beauty product I can't live without: My Dr. Pepper Smackers lip gloss!! I don't have a photo of it because it is always in my pocket, but it is the perfect combo of moisturizer, protection and slight colour.  Plus it smells great! Hubs says it doesn't taste the best, but I think it is perfect :-)

Anyhoo - that's about it! There are some other items that make into the rotation once in a while, but this is what is hot right now :-)

Thanks Liz, for including me in this fun blog series!!  I love reading about other bloggers' beauty bags and I feel pretty special to be a part of it!

Thanks again to the wonderful Janice of Life begins at thirty, right? for sharing with us.

I've been trying to round up more participants for the beauty bag series for 2011, if you think you might be interested or know anyone that might be, please send me an email, thanks :)