Business Trip Essentials

Today I'm uber nervous! I'm leaving for a business trip to Birmingham tomorrow afternoon and won't be home until Wednesday night, meaning I need to strategically choose which beauty products to take with me. I have a teeny tiny suitcase that I need to drag around for 3 days so it needs to be light enough to carry. Luckily I have a stash of samples which comes in incredibly handy when I'm going away! Here's what I'm taking away with me...

Skincare

My essential skincare includes Olay Eyemake-up Remover, Ginvera Exfoliating Marvel Gel and DHC Cleansing Oil. This is the perfect combination for removing my make-up and cleansing my face at the same time. I'm also taking a sample of Taylor Swift's perfumed shower gel for a quick rinse at the end of the day.

Haircare

The only haircare products I'm taking are the Percy & Reed Dry Shampoo and Conditioner. I'm only there for 2 nights so I can cope without washing my hair over that time! The dry shampoo makes my hair feel fresh and the conditioner locks in the shine. Just like washing my hair, without the effort...

Make-up

Seeing as I'm limited on space I'm taking the bare essentials, which includes Ginvera BB Cream, Benefit's The PoreFessional, Agent Zero Shine, They're Real, Hoola, my HD Brow kit, Eyeko Skinny Eyeliner plus my favourite MAC Lipstick, Faux! I'm aiming for a nude look all week to try and look somewhat professional!

I've got unlimited music on spotify, Glamour Magazine and Devoted by Hilary Duff to read on the train and at the hotel. Let's hope I don't get lost, or miss my stop! I'll hopefully have plenty of spare time to blog, but I'll have to upload those posts when I'm home! If you want to keep me company, follow me on Twitter @jadicusxo!

Benefit's The PoreFessional Agent Zero Shine Review

This year beauty cult Benefit Cosmetics released The PoreFessional Agent Zero Shine, after The PoreFessional was a huge success last year. As a huge fan of The PoreFessional I couldn't wait to try this bad boy out!

Agent Zero Shine is a loose translucent powder designed to suit any skin type and reduce shine (zero shine, duh!). Although it may appear quite dark when it is in powder form, once it hits the skin it provides a clear matte coverage, suiting all skin types and make up. I am pretty pale and I can tell you now this does not make me look orange! It blends perfectly with any make up I use, be it BB Cream, liquid foundation or matte foundation; even over blusher and bronzer! It's perfect for use when I apply too much liquid coverage and I need to look less oily, and also when it reaches the end of the day and my make up is sliding off. Sometimes I even use it on my makeup free face to give myself a natural, oil free finish. ...Gone are the days of greasy t-zones!

The packaging of Agent Zero Shine is cute and compact, perfect to fit in your handbag or make up bag, instead of lugging around larger powders and brushes! The bottom twists off, revealing a small powder brush secretly packed away. The top also twists off, revealing another twist top which allows the loose powder to escape. The lid doubles as a handy tool to empty the powder into. I swirl my brush around a few times, dusting it off in the lid and applying to my oily zones, including my T-zone, eyelids and cheekbones. Shiny patches are gone in a few strokes and I have rarely ever needed to touch up later on. It really lasts!

I carry this around religiously so I can break it out when I start to look a little oily. It's become my favourite powder, despite the price tag! It is definitely worth it the £23.50, especially as it has lasted me since January!

Have you tried The PoreFessional Agent Zero Shine yet? If not, hit your local Benefit Cosmetic Counter and give it a try!

Jade xo

My Top Three Favourite Hand Creams

Hand creams are one of my daily essentials; I can't go a day without applying it at least once. From painting my nails to filing paper at work, my hands are always exposed to harmful substances that cause the skin to dry and crack. In the winter I struggle a lot with dry skin so I need a good hand cream to help lock in the moisture and keep my hands nice and soft. It also helps if the hand cream smells nice too! I thought I'd share with you my top three hand creams that I absolutely couldn't live without.

Yves Rocher Cacao Hand Cream

I received this cream in a Glossybox and have been in love since. This cream was the perfect sidekick for my manicures as it kept my skin hydrated for hours and prevented my skin from going dry in the harsh, cold winter we had. Oh and I forgot to mention, it smelt like Terry's Chocolate Orange! That's right! It's so yummy I can't get enough of it and a bottle is only £1.95! Unfortunately it was a limited edition hand cream available around Christmas time so it's not available on the website anymore. I'm close to running out too *weeps* so I'm savouring the rest. I'm looking forward to the Cacao & Orange collection to become available again so I can stock up!

Beauty At Tori's Strawberry Creampie Hand Cream

Beauty At Tori's is my local beauty salon and happens to be owned by my cousin! Tori provided a range of services (see my post here) and even has her own skincare range. One item particular being this Strawberry Creampie hand cream. Made with natural ingredients in Faversham, Kent, this hand cream is incredibly soft and smells absolutely divine, sort of like a strawberry cheesecake! It has a thick, creamy texture and once absorbed, leaves the skin feeling as soft as a baby's.  This hand cream is perfect to use for a manicure and works well as a body cream too! The smell of strawberries lingers for hours and my skin is left hydrated for just as long.  I've not had a chance to try it in the winter yet, but with its moisturising properties in this climate I'm sure it will work brilliantly. In my opinion this product is on par with Soap & Glory's Hand Food due to the texture, longevity and fragrance, and it's only £4.50!

Soap & Glory Hand Food

Everyone loves Soap & Glory! Their quirky packaging and hilarious product names have made them a household name, not to mention their products are fantastic! I especially love Hand Food. I find that as I massage this cream into my hands it becomes quite watery, but it absorbs into the skin within seconds. My hands feel fully hydrated and incredibly soft without leaving behind a sticky residue like other moisturisers can do. Hand Food is made with Shea Butter, Macadamia Oil and Marshmallow, and no wonder; it smells delicious! I find that this hand cream helps to restore my skins health and the Shea Butter helps to fade any scars or marks that may appear (I get a lot of paper cuts!). During the winter months this is the perfect product to use as it helps reduce dryness, but I still use it throughout the year. At only £5 a bottle this cream is an absolute bargain! I'd still buy it if they upped the price though...

Love hand creams too? Tell me your favourites!