GRACE NOTES: SEPTEMBER 2017
Working as a beauty writer practically requires me to turn up at work wearing as little product as possible – a blank canvas if you will – to be smothered and swatched in potions and pigments from 8 ‘till 5. As it's my job to swatch and sniff my way through the latest and greatest beauty launches, each month I debrief on the ones worth writing home about.
COLOURED RAINE QUEEN OF HEARTS PALETTE
I’ve always been super terrified of bright colours in eye makeup, but I think all those Chanel ads of Kristen Stewart in red eyeshadow rubbed off on me last year… I’m consequently obsessed with warm eyeshadow - reds, pinks, coppers etc - they’ve had a bad rap in the past (pink eye mainly), but if you’ve got green eyes as I have, red is both forgiving and flattering. This is the perfect palette because as well as the brights and shimmers, it contains the nudes and neutrals that you need to build your base. It’s especially good for taking a look from day to night in a pinch - simply add sparkle.
FRESH SUGAR TINTED LIP TREATMENT IN NUDE
I’m a big fan of going natural on the lips, it makes life a lot easier, especially when reapplying on-the-go. Finding the perfect nude has been a hit-and-miss adventure - mostly because if you’re going for ‘my lips but better’, the texture is every bit as important as the colour. This ticks all of the boxes - a flattering, neutral colour, non-drying consistency, and sheer staying power make it pretty much perfect.
TATA HARPER CLARIFYING MASK
As someone who suffers from hormonal acne (god bless birth control), masks like this are legit the only products that I’ve ever found to have tangible results. This one is pricey, there’s no two ways about it, but it’s also a cult hit and it’s good for a reason - it contains AHAs, lactic acid, and salicylic acid - pretty much the holy grail trio of blemish battlers. Now onto my second jar, I don’t go a week without using it.
MORROCCANOIL TREATMENT Oil
It’s my first winter with coloured hair, and as the weather has got colder I’ve noticed my ends are increasingly dry, fluffy, and frizzy. Enter, Morroccanoil - I’ve tried every fancy hair treatment on the shelf but I always come back to this - why don’t I just stay loyal? Smoothing, hydrating, softening, smells great, adds shine, and never looks greasy or removes texture. The perfect hair oil.
GLOSSIER BALM DOTCOM IN COCONUT
Along with dry hair, this winter has been the first where I’ve really suffered from dry hands and lips too. Hands are still a work in progress (suggestions are welcome!) but the lip issue has been solved by Glossier Balm Dotcom - most specifically the coconut flavour. I tried the original a few years ago and wasn’t impressed (Vaseline in a cute tube), but the coconut version not only smells/tastes 4682939 times better, but also seems to work completely differently - it feels much less greasy and much more nourishing. I slather it on thick every night before bed and layer it over my lipstick by day.
