City Essentials London

While packing my case for a trip to London I came to realise that my beauty choices really are dependant on location. I don't have a suit all, go to bag of tricks rather I tend to select products to suit whatever city I may be frequenting - something up until now I have done subconsciously. There is some method to my madness; in comparison to Glasgow is typically more humid and polluted (not a criticism Glasgow isn't far behind) so my choices somewhat aim to counteract this.

City Essentials London

I have two demands from my make-up choices when in London, they must withstand the humidity and last the pace of the day. As I spend most of my trip running from point A to B, if they happen to be waterproof - all the better. More often than not I pack a MAC Paint Pot, they stay on all day, offer a quick slick of colour and are quick and easy to use. At the moment I am really enjoying the shade Stormy Pink - a grey based mauve, used alone it gives a gentle smoke eye effect or can be used as an eyeshadow base for a more intense look. For my brows nothing quite withstands all London can throw its quite like Make Up For Ever Aqua Brow, initially trick to master but with a little practise I have no doubt you will be converted.

Did I mention my skin hates London? No it does, I think the tube is to blame? All that dust clogs my pores and I end up with a really dull complexion. To remedy this I tend to mix a little liquid highlighter within my foundation and allow it to pep up my base without being too dramatic. At the moment I am really enjoying the new Rimmel Good to Go Highlighters - they are subtle, not overly shimmer based yet add a healthy glow to the skin. I liken them to a liquid version of the Hourglass Ambient Light Powders.

The additional few degrees seems to encourage my skin to become more oily then usual so out go powder blushes and it is in with cream blushes. My personal favourite has to be Topshop Cream Blush in Head Over Heels, this bright pink based coral brightens my complexion and doubles up as a matte lip colour should I want it too. To keep everything in place I rely on Make Up For Ever HD Powder - admittedly it is not the lightest but it does contain my excess oil and prevents my make-up from fading.

It doesn't matter where I travel, Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm follows suit. This thick, deeply nourishing lip balm resolves all my lip woes overnight, not to mention it smells delicious - a little like lemon curd.

City Essentials London

Of all the things to have a sensitivity too, I have one with deodorant. Yes really! Most cause me to break out in red rashes and as I only use roll on formulations my choices are already limited. One of the very few that I can use is Soft & Gentle Orange Blossom & Grapefruit Roll On Anti-Perspirant. It keeps me fresh all day long and the scent is rather pleasant. An odd recommendation I know but if you are in a similar predicament it may be one to try?

Speaking of keeping fresh the new Chloe My Little Chloe's have more than came in handy not only for travel but everyday use. At the moment I am a tad obsessed with the original Chloe fragrance - a light, super girlie floral that receives compliments wherever I go. I have taken the lid off as it somewhat weighs down my bag but the dinky 25ml size is ideal for stashing in a bag for day to day use. I do wish the UK offered more roll on fragrance options like Sephora in the US does.

Finding a great dry shampoo isn't all that easy - so many choices, so many duds! I'm a little late in trying out Colab Dry Shampoo's but my am I glad I did. Unlike many others the fragrances are incredible (my personal favourite is the fruity New York scent), there is no white residue or tacky, powdery residue left in the hair and most importantly the formula does absorb grease and all the scents of city life. Ideal if you can't or simply don't want to wash your hair daily. I swear by it!

I cart around hand sanitiser daily but then again so do most people? I know it is not the most exciting of products but an essential in my opinion if using public transport. Some hand sanitisers can dry and irritate my hands (most likely due to overuse) but one that is fairly gentle is Cuticura Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel. There are several fragrances to choose from, it is really affordable and available from pretty much everywhere - I've even seen Cuticura Hand Gels stocked in WHS.

Sometimes the most boring products turn out to be the very item that save your bacon time and time again. Do you have any city essentials?