Clinique Lash Power Mascara Long-Wearing Formula

My beloved Estee Lauder mascara has been discontinued which makes me angry. Even worse, I left my tube of it in London. So I simply had to go and find a replacement. I picked up this baby in Sephora on Saturday. Two days in and I can report that it's good. It's not as perfect as the Estee Lauder but it doesn't smudge and it gives good lash. It has very low key packaging but that's ok. It's a perfectly serviceable everyday mascara. It's also only $16 which I consider a bit of a bargain.

Other products I am loving at the moment include the Bourjois cream blushers. They are so easy to apply. My divine Vitazing keeps me from looking dead in this ever-lasting winter. Seventeen powder which I dust it very lightly over my eyes so my mascara sticks better. I'd be lost without it, it's a real hero product and it's cheap as chips. Kiehls 24/7 moisturiser is my new favourite, the eucalyptus smell is so heavenly. I bought two bottles at the airport as they don't seem to sell it in the shops. Dries Van Noten perfume is perfect for this cold weather. And to cheer myself up, I bought this in Duane Reade at the weekend:

Carmex lip balm in a leopard skin tube! It makes me very happy. Read about it here, fab marketing.

Make-up must-haves

Continuing in my series we come to the fun of make-up. A difficult one this as make-up is meant to be playful and I have so many things I love playing with and I like to experiment with new colours and so on. However, when I go away I always pack the following.

I'm not going to bang on about Origins VitaZing again but yes, I take it. I get anxiety if I am apart from it.

Blusher and for me Bobbi Brown wins every time, her cream blushers have a lot of pigment so last for ages.

You can use this on lips as well but I never do.

Eyes - first up is the primer and nobody makes a better one than Urban Decay. It's miraculous. Everyone should have this.

If I am feeling tired or I look tired then nothing is as good as Bobbi Brown Corrector.

I can't stress enough, apply with a brush and not your fingers. I put this under my eyes - not much at all and blend it in and it does perk you up no end.

Then I dust my eyes with Boots Seventeen powder - no point going expensive with this but then I don't powder my nose and if you do, you probably would want to upgrade.

Then my everyday look is an eyeliner and I cannot bear to be parted from my Urban Decay ones.

All the pretty colours! My favourite is Graffiti - the second from the right. But I have many and vary them depending on my mood. I have dozens of eye shadows too but that's for those days when I am prepared to make more effort.

To the mascara. Ahhhh, how many have I tried? And yes still none top Max Factor Masterpiece Max.

It goes on easily, gives you nice thick lashes and lasts all day. I don't like any others as much.

To lipstick. Now I don't wear lipstick by day but for a night out and especially for a night out after work, nothing fast tracks you to glamour more than a bright lippie and since I don't wear it all day long, it's worth getting the Rolls Royce which is Chanel Rouge Coco. It's fabulous, moisturising and divine in every way. Even if I did wear it every day, I'd still buy this.

For more of a day look and when I can be bothered, I do enjoy the Clinique Chubby Sticks. Nice and moisturising and easy to put on, I love the watermelon and the cherry ones.

There we have it. To put all the above on takes me five minutes - I've spent years practising. I can't sit for ages applying make-up, I don't have the patience for it.

17 Falsifeye mascara

I saw this today in Boots and thought I had to buy it with such a brilliant name. I was preparing for disappointment as I always do when trying a new mascara and it didn't start off hopefully as it's a very thick brush and quite cloggy. However, I have to say it was easier to apply than I was expecting and it stayed put through glasses of champagne and laughter with my mate.

It's cheap as chips so give it a go.