Work Essentials #1

Welcome to the first of many ‘what’s in my bag’ type posts (which I personally love to read), except this isn’t everything in my bag, just the products I carry around with me on a daily basis during the week. I’ll probably do posts like this every couple of months as the contents of my handbag change; I like to switch things up and try out new products that are in keeping with the weather/seasons.

I carry hand cream on me everywhere I go, especially at work as I’m constantly washing my hands. I picked up this Yardley Peony hand & nail cream (containing shea and cocoa butter, grapeseed and sweet almond oil, and vitamin E) from Boots on a bit of whim as it was on offer for £1.99. I wanted something fresh and hydrating for summer that would sink in fast, and this does the job perfectly. I love the new Yardley packaging, and get no end of compliments from colleagues on the beautiful floral scent.

I also always carry hand sanitiser on me for those ‘just in case’ moments; the one I currently have is from mail-order brand Forever which specialise in aloe vera products. This aloe and honey formulation is said to nourish and moisturise hands as well as cleansing, so skin doesn’t feel stripped after use (a claim I can vouch for). This has a really fresh lemon/lime scent which is almost like sweets. A bit extreme perhaps, but I also carry wet wipes on me for accidental spills and the like, and I really like these H&M hand & face wipes which come in such cute packaging; they do a huge variety so I tend to stock up whenever I go in. I also carry pocket tissues on me because you never can be too prepared!

Dry shampoo is an absolute must for me at the moment, especially since I started cycling to work at the beginning of the summer (sweaty helmet hair – not a good look). Although I always use the John Frieda Luxurious Volume dry shampoo (my fave at the moment) in the mornings, I like to have a can on me at work too just in case. I’m a bit on the fence about Batiste, but I really like the smell of this mini Mamba version which came in a Christmas giftset, and it does the job of banishing grease and plumping up my hair a bit just fine. I also wouldn’t be without my trusty Tresemme mini paddle brush. I wear my hair long and straight, and am forever brushing it which I know must drive my colleagues mad, but I just like to keep it looking smooth and tangle-free, and especially when I’ve just cycled in it’s always in need of some attention.

Of course every girls needs to carry a mirror with her – I think I picked up this Lily Cole pocket mirror in some kind of a sale at the Body Shop; it’s the perfect size for slipping into my work bag. I haven’t been taking any makeup with me to work recently; I tend to keep my look pretty minimal during the warmer weather so there’s no need to top up, but I do have this Revlon Lip Butter in Juicy Papaya in my bag for if I want to add a bit of colour to my face - the flattering coral shade brightens the complexion and looks especially good with a tan. Not beauty products exactly, but I like to have this Smile breath spray from Boots with me to freshen my breath post lunch-break, and I wouldn’t be without my favourite aerosol deodorant, Sure Bright – this smells so nice and leaves me feeling fresh as a daisy even after cycling up a massive hill not long before.

No lipbalm, you ask? Despite being a lipbalm lover I had been trying to go without and just use the Revlon Lip Butter, since it is supposed to nourish and moisturise lips too. But I wasn’t feeling it so I did recently pick up the Burts Bees Nourishing Lipbalm with mango butter with my Boots points, which is a perfect summer lipbalm – light and hydrating with a yummy citrus scent. I also forgot to mention the Body Shop Mango eau de toilette spray – a light fruity fragrance that I like to spritz on throughout the day and have found so refreshing during the recent heatwave.

What are some of your work essentials?

Chandra

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