Cheap Thrills- Best Beauty Buy Under $10

Sportsgirl Lip Chalk. For $9.95 this is of of my current favourite lip products. It's my new go-to lip product as it's super long lasting and doesn't budge once it's applied. What is Lip Chalk? Its in a lipgloss tube and is applied with a sponge tip wand. It applies as a cream and dries to a matt finish with super staying power. If you want proof of it's staying power, I was in 45 degree heat at a water park in Dubai and it survived the whole afternoon including eating lunch and ice cream. Perfect for a day at the races!To get the most out of it, apply it carefully making sure it's on evenly. Let it dry for a few secs to a matt finish. If your lips feel a bit dry a lick of lip balm (lip smackers is my choice) doesn't affect it's staying power and adds just enough moisture.The downside to this product is it's only available in 3 colours so far, but the ones they do have are great.

Available to buy in Australia from any Sportsgirl store including online.By Angela MenzPlease note-these are my personal thoughts and nothing in this post was sponsored or supplied.

Travel Essentials

I've been doing lots of international flying lately and with that comes terrible cabin air, nasty skin and puffy ankles. When I fly, I usually have to hit the ground running when I land. Because of this I am very particular about what I take in my handbag to make life a little easier. These are my top 5 essentials when I fly.1. Face oil. I can't sing it's praises enough! This has changed my skin from being dry with a breakout when I land to being soft and moisturised. I make sure I re-apply regularly during the flight (every couple of hours or so) and rub it well into my hands too. My top pics are ModelCo and Trilogy. A little goes a long way, only a 3 or four drops are needed for each application. They are also well under the liquid limit for international flying.

2. Lucas PawPaw ointment. The only way I can keep my lips soft, is to slap a nice thick layer on when I take my seat and after eating and drinking. This product also seems to come in handy to help with any scrapes, cuts or minor skin ailments that always seem to pop up on holidays.3. Bright lipstick. I always feel awful when I get off a plane and dislike wearing makeup when flying. Instead I like to keep some bright lippy on hand so I can apply it just before landing. I hope to dazzle anyone that sees me with bright lips and draw attention away from the bags under my eyes. Mac lipsticks are one of my fave brands for it's great selection of bright colours. 4. Antibacterial wipes. The last two aren't beauty related but are always in my handbag when flying. After seeing a women on a recent flight change her child's nappy on the tray table on front of her I take no chances and keep these on hand to wipe down my space before I get too comfortable. These are also good to keep on hand to wipe down your hands or any accidental spills.5. Compression socks. I'll admit I used to laugh at the thought of wearing these, but after seeing my ankles turned into CANKLES these are a must for me. No more trying to squish my feet into my shoes at the end of a flight or painful feet after travel.By Angela Menz Please note, these are my personal thoughts and nothing in this post was sponsored or supplied. 

It's all about the Base

No, this post isn't about that annoying song that keeps playing on the radio. This is all about the BASE for your makeup!Race days require makeup that goes the distance from AM to PM and will stay put regardless of the weather. They also require you to have your best face forward. That's where a good primer comes into play. But what exactly is a primer and what does it do?A good primer will help your makeup go on smoothly, and last longer. They can help to hide pores,  disguise wrinkles and help with uneven skin tone. I've tried a few and have skin that some days is very dry and other days is an oil slick. The rest of the time it's somewhere in-between. It took me a while to be fully converted to the goodness of a primer, as I had always dismissed it as an extra unnecessary step in my makeup routine. It also took a little white to find a good product that suited me and my needs. I don't wear much on my skin day-to-day, but for race days I do require a lot from my makeup.Of all the primers I have tried I have two go to products.Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Skin Primer RRP$59 AUDThis is good all round solid performer. My skin can vary quite a bit with the seasons and temperature and regardless of what's going on with my face this works. My makeup goes on much better with this and stays put. It is on the pricier side for a primer, but a tube lasts for ages and a little goes a long way. Available from Napoleon Perdis stores, online and major department stores.Garnier 5 second Perfect Blur RRP$17 AUDThis is especially good when I've got not so great skin. The blurb for the product makes many claims about it's light reflecting properties, breakthrough technology *yawn* it goes on forever! I won't bore you but I will say everything just looks better with this on my skin. It's well priced and you only need the tiniest amount. I often just use this on the parts of my skin that need a bit of extra help, like my nose and chin rather than allover my face. It's available to buy in supermarkets and pharmacy's everywhere.These are just two of my personal faves for a good makeup primer. There are so many different primers on the market and many that are designed for specific skin concerns. If you haven't tried one before and think you could be getting more from your makeup (ease of application, good coverage, longevity etc) then I'd certainly suggest giving a makeup primer a go.By Angela Menz