BACK TO SCHOOL | BAGS ON A BUDGET + BAG ESSENTIALS

Hello everyone! So now that summer is coming to an end, that means one thing for a lot of people... it's time to go back to school/college/university. With that in mind i thought i would share some tips and advice for when it comes to going back to school. Kicking things off with sharing a selection of bags perfect to stay stylish, yet practical and also on a budget before talking all things bag essentials and what you are going to need to pack/carry with you for any of those beauty emergencies...

Picking the right back for the new school/college year isn't always so simple, as you have to take so many different things in to consideration when it comes down to it. You need it to be practical, easy to carry, spacious enough to fit what items you need to take with you daily yet you want to stay looking stylish also. I always find that there are a select few styles of bags that tick all of these boxes and those are backpacks, tote bags and shopper bags. This year there is a ton of new-in bags, both online and in-store, under £40 and some under £20.

1. topshop sydney zip shopper bag | £26 | 2. accessorize holly lilac backpack | £32 |

3. justfab blush chadwick bag | £10.74 | 4. romwe polka dot print canvas tote bag | £7.50 |

5. h&m reversible shopper bag | £14.99 | 6. primark mustard shopper tote bag | £8 |

7. romwe double zipper flap pu backpack | £10.50 |
8. asos design black backpack with rose gold zip | £25 |

9. next zodiac shopper bag | £4 | 10. h&m black backpack | £19.99 |

11. primark black oversized shopper bag | £10 | 12. topshop hobo bag | £29 |

13. mango pebbled tote bag | £19.99 | 14. zara everyday backpack | £19.99 |

15. zara reversible studded tote bag | £2.99 | 16. hype pink embroidered backpack | £25 |

17. boohoo studded rucksack | £20 |

Once you have selected the perfect back to school bag, you are going to need to fill it with all the essentials that you might need.  (including some items you might need in an emergency)...

1. makeup/wash bag

Kicking things off with the main event and that is all about selecting the perfect makeup bag or wash bag, that is going to not only fit everything you might need to carry but also fit inside of your bag perfectly without taking up too much room. Personally i will always recommend a transparent bag, as you can find the items inside quickly and they are easy to clean if you get a spillage. 

2. deodorant, tampons + mints

When it comes to bag essentials, everyone should always carry products that are going to help on the hygiene front. Personally i prefer to use roll-on deodorant as they are not only long-wearing but also a lot more compact and better value for money rather than picking up the mini-sized spray deodorants. Tampons are another must as you just never know when that situation is going to occur for either yourself or a friend, it is always better to be prepared and a lot of tampons are super compact so they don't take up very much room. Finally on the hygiene side of things, i always like to carry mints or chewing gum and at the moment the tic tac mint rush mints are a personal favourite of mine.

3. hand cleansing gel + mini dry shampoo

Mixing a little hygiene and beauty together but two other essentials that are always in my everyday essentials bag, are hand sanitizer and dry shampoo. Merci Handy is a favourite brand of mine, especially when it comes to hand gel to help you kill any germs on your hands. The brand now stock dry shampoo in a 100ml sized can, which is a perfect size for carrying with you. Dry shampoo is definitely a must carry item, especially if you are going to be playing sports/getting sweaty.

| shop the mercy handy cleansing gel: here | shop the dry shampoo: here | 

4. concealer + mini sponges

The first step for makeup touch-ups is definitely concealer, which you can simply pack your go-to concealer or buy a duplicate. That being said the revolution conceal and define concealer is the perfect travel/essential makeup bag sized concealer, as it is smaller in size to your regular concealer want. Not only is this concealer compact it is also one of my personal favourites from the drugstore at the moment, it only retails for £4 and has high-end quality. Of course if you are going to be touching up using concealer, you are going to want something to blend it out with and the perfect compact tool for that is a mini beauty sponge. Revolution also have your back when it comes to blending, with this amazing value for money mini pro sponge set for just £3.

5. choose a pressed powder with a compact mirror included

By selecting a face powder which has a mirror included in the packaging, is such a space saver as sometimes powders and mirrors can take up some room. Powder is definitely in the top three must-pack essentials, to not only set any touch-ups you have made but to also prevent/fix any shine that might occur through-out a long day.

6. keep lip products to a minimum

It is so easy to go overboard with packing one too many lip products (trust me, i would know i am that girl with ten different products in her bag). Obviously you are going to be at school and more than likely opting for a "no makeup, makeup" look for the day. A personal favourite of mine would to just pack a lip liner, as you can keep the lip looking natural yet you are adding some shape and definition. I also mentioned this in a recent motivation monday post, where i shared my go-to gym/workout makeup.

Happy Weekend!

xo.