TIPS & TRICKS: HOW TO PACK A SMALL HANDBAG

Hello everyone! I used to be one of those people who always carried a larger handbag, which nine times out of ten just used to end up being full of unnecessary rubbish and would get on my nerves because it was just so heavy. Then last year i started to carry a much smaller handbag and i have not looked back since, just because the bag is smaller doesn't always mean you can't fit all of the essentials inside. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would share with you, my personal tips and tricks on how to pack a small handbag.

1. choose the right "smaller" handbag, this one from Topshop is perfect for packing items inside of it as it has different zip compartments, card slots and can either be worn as a clutch or chain bag.

2. only pack the lip products or lip combination you need for that day, i always used to end up carrying around about ten different lip products that i didn't need to.

3. invest in a small coin purse/pouch to hold all the little bits and bobs you might need, but don't want to have lying at the bottom of your bag to get lost such as hair pins, hair ties, coins and notes.

4. as i mentioned this bag has card slots which is super handy, but still only ever pack the cards you might need whilst out and about so if you're shopping only take the essential cards.

5. invest in a roller ball perfume or a refillable mini perfume, these save so much room in your bag and save your favourite perfume from getting lost/damaged.

6. save samples/buy sample sized products to keep in your bag such as hand creams/hand gels, as they save so much room (i have a samples tips & tricks post here).

7. keep essential items that won't fit inside a coin purse, such as tampons, headphones, gum/mints and keys in the zip compartment this way they are hidden away/less likely to loose them.

8. if you are going to want to touch up through-out the day/night, invest in a face powder that has the product, applicator and a mirror all in one, this way you don't need to carry them separate. 

9. an essential when buying a smaller bag, make sure you phone fits inside or it has a safe place for it to go, because let's face it we can't go without our phones right?

10. arrange items inside your bag in a certain way rather than just throwing everything in, this way the bag is more likely to close easier and look less bulky.

catch my previous handbag related posts here:

blogmas day ten: what's in my bag

my handbag essentials

xo.

MY HANDBAG ESSENTIALS

Hello everyone! One of my favourite types of videos to watch and posts to read, hands down has to be the "what's in my bag" type i just can't get enough and i have done my fair share of them on my blog through-out the years also. Seeing as it has been a while since my last what's in my... post, i thought why not do an updated version but with a little twist. That twist being just focusing on the essentials, those i can't cope without them being in my bag items (excluding the obvious phone, money and keys ha).

apple earPods aka headphones

One thing i can't cope without is headphones, in fact i am wearing them right now as i type this post out ha ha. So if i am on the go (not whilst i am driving) but on the tram or the train, i have to have my headphones so i can listen to music and of course watch the odd Instagram and Snapchat story.

merci handy flower power hand cleansing gel

I spotted this a while back on Birchbox i believe and thought how much it looked like the old school Bath & Body Works hand gel, but then whilst i was browsing in Topshop one day i discovered they sold it when at the tills paying and i picked one up. This has got to be one of the best ones i have every tried, as it not only kills the germs but it also moisturises your hands unlike some sanitizers that dry out your hands. So far i have tried the lollypop one and the flower powder one, but i have to say flower power is my favourite out of the two.

caudalie hand and nail cream

Sticking with the hand theme, the next item i can't deal without having in my bag is a hand cream because my hands do get dry quite quickly and i know that is down to me being an over hand washer. This mini Caudalie hand cream is perfect to keep in your bag, as it doesn't take up any room at all and a little goes a long way. I picked these mini ones up a couple of times, as part of my Feel Unique Pick 'n' Mix Beauty sample service.

wrigley's extra ice spearmint sugar free gum

Not the most exciting item but still an essential that is probably in most peoples bags, as much as your keys or wallet would be and that is chewing gum. Carrying gum comes in handy for so many reasons, especially if you have eaten something garlic-y at a restaurant ha! I usually carry around the pots of gum around but last time i went to get one, they didn't have any one the Extra Ice ones in pot version so i just picked up a single packet.

primark rose explosion perfume rollerball

This particular scent was in my previous what's in my handbag post and i had mentioned how handy these are to just throw in your bag, they don't take any room up and you don't have to worry about the bottle smashing. So i always just pick up one of these from primark once i am running low, as they are so in-expensive but it also smells insane for a cheaper scent and that is hard to come by.

mac cosmetics pro longwear lip pencil in the shade oh honey!

Finally moving on-to the good stuff and i try so hard to keep my handbag lip products to a minimum these days, unlike before when more than half of my bag would be lipsticks. Seeing as this lip liner is one of my favourites of all time, i had to go and do a repeat performance like i used to do with Créme D' Nude lipstick and have one in my collection and one in my handbag. This lip liner is super creamy, easy to apply, long-wearing and literally the most perfect nude that goes with every nude. 

mac cosmetics lipstick in the shade peachstock 

For my birthday i got a MAC voucher so i picked up a few new nude lipsticks that i had my eye on and wanted to add to the collection, this shade called Peachstock being one of them. I didn't expect to fall in love with this colour as much as i have, i now love it more than Honeylove and Créme D' Nude. Peachstock is just the most perfect peachy, light beige toned lipstick that you can just pop on quick and easy.

anastasia beverly hills liquid lipstick in the shade naked

Finally the last lip product that i always have to take out with me in my handbag and currently along side Peachstock, is one of my favourite go-to nude lip colours. The shade Naked by ABH is honestly my perfect nude in a tube, which i mentioned when i did a finally trying ABH liquid lipsticks post last month and i haven't been able to put it down since.

♥

WHAT'S IN MY HANDBAG (UPDATED)

Hey guys, i hope you are all having a great day! As i explained in yesterday's post there was a slight glitch with publishing this particular post on Friday therefore i am posting it today. I mentioned in my last non beauty favourites post that i was in love with my new handbag and would more than likely do an updated "what's in my handbag" so finally here it is...

This is my new bag that i got last month actually, it's by Fiorelli and it's called the Kenzie monochrome tote. The bag itself should of been £69 but i got it for a steal in the sale for half price. It's just the type of bag i have been looking to get for a long time now but just hadn't found the right one until this one. It has two different ways of carrying the bag either with the shorter handles so you can carry it on your arm or it has a long detachable handle which you can change the length of.

Now for what's inside of my handbag...

Purse: French Connection

Sunglasses: New Look (Case from River Island)

Nurofen Tablets and Hay Fever Tablets (Essential)

Hand Gel: Wilko's Wild Berry

2 Extra Chewing Gum (Cause apparently one isn't enough)

Notebook: Morrisons 

Pen: Gift from my Mum and Dad

Kleenex Tissues

Soap&Glory Hand Food

Hair Tie: H&M

Variety of Lip Products: Essence Lip Liner in Stain Mauve, MAC Snob Lipstick, Revlon ColorStay MoistureStain in Parisian Passion and NYX Butter Gloss in Élair.

(I also usually keep my iPhone and Keys in here too but they weren't in there at the time). 

Check out my latest non beauty favourites post here: 

http://katiebeautyshake.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/non-beauty-favourites-2.html?m=0

♥

WHAT'S IN MY HANDBAG

I love looking at other bloggers and youtuber's "what's in my handbag" posts and videos as let's face it who doesn't love having a good nosey in someone's bag. I have been meaning to do this blog post for a while now ever since i changed up my handbag. So to cut a long story short, here is the contents of my bag...

Since before last month.. i'd say for around 18 months i had been carrying around my trusty River Island handbag and even now there is still nothing wrong with it, i just fancied a change. So i decided to pick up this one from Just Fab online and i am so glad i did, it's such a spacious bag and as it's black it pretty much goes with every outfit. I love the gold detailing on the front and the material of the bag is really good quality. I would definitely recommend taking a look on the site as they have some really nice shoes/boots and accessories available and are reasonably priced, my particular tote bag is only £35.

Inside My Bag: Beauty Items

1. Soap & Glory Hand Food - i literary can't go anywhere without this stuff.

2. Beyoncé Heat Perfume - i am obsessed with this perfume, it smells so nice.

3. The Body Shop Pink Grapefruit Lip Butter - cause nobody likes getting chapped lips especially in this cold winter weather, so i like to keep them moisturized.

4. L'Oreal Lumi Magique Highlight Pen in Light - i like to keep this in my bag just in case my under eye areas need a quick pick me up and brightening.

5. Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Transparent - i always carry this trusty powder just to touch up my face during the day in any shiny areas.

6. The Body Shop Mango Hand Cleansing Gel - i carry hand gel anywhere and everywhere i go, as i tend to be a really bad germaphobe and this one smells amazing.

7. Revlon Lip Butter in Sugar Frosting - i like to apply this if i want a little bit of colour as well as to hydrate my lips throughout the day/evening.

8. MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Creme D'Nude - cause we always have to carry a nude lipstick it is just essential and necessary.

As of late i am really proud of myself for only carrying around 3 lip products, cause before my handbag tended to be a place full of different lipsticks/lipglosses that i didn't even know was there.

Inside My Bag: Random Items

9. Floral 2014 Diary - i always keep this diary with me just in case i want to write down any dates or different ideas for blog posts and etc.

10. Wrigley's Extra Gum - just because who doesn't carry gum in their handbag.

11. My Keys - to get in and out of my car and house obviously, i love my little miss princess key chain that my sister got for my not too long ago.

12. iPhone Headphones - i swear this pair is actually indestructible, they are always getting tangled up and just thrown to the bottom of my bag.

13. French Connection Purse - i got this new purse around the same time as my new handbag for a steal in the sale on ASOS and is such a classic.

So there it is the contents of my handbag. What random things do you keep in yours?

Katie♥