Grace Notes: January 2018
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.
GLOSSIER YOU EDP
Byredo has been reigning the cool-girl perfume scene for a few years now, so things were due a shake-up. A few brands tried (and failed) to be the next big thing, but then in strutted Glossier with a £45 millennial pink glass bottle and suddenly everything changed. Creamy, soft, woody, and a bit dirty - in the same sweet, warm way that Byredo’s Gypsy Water is - You emphasises, rather than masks, your natural scent. Personally, I find it not quite fragrant enough to become one of my long-term favourites - perfumes that are powerful enough to trigger emotions and transport you to another planet. But I do like that it smells exactly the same at the end of the day as it does when you first spray it on - it’s in there, for sure, but scent-wise there’s not a hint of alcohol. Controversially, I hate the packaging, which makes this one of the ugliest but best-smelling things I own.
TALIKA LIPOCILS EYELASH TREATMENT
Queen of my nighttime regime at the moment is Talika’s Lipocils Eyelash Treatment. I didn’t like it at first because it’s a bit fiddly to apply and if you get it in your eyes it stings like a b***h. But, as I was reviewing it for a feature I was writing at work, I persevered, and wowww, am I glad I did. Granted, I didn’t notice any results for the first few weeks, and didn’t really even keep an eye on my lashes because I quite frankly wasn’t expecting anything. It wasn’t until my boyfriend commented on the length of my lashes twice in the space of a week (astute coming from a guy who can’t tell whether I’ve done my eyebrows or not) that I put two-and-two together and got up close and personal with my lashline in the mirror. I’ve always had long, thick lashes, but now they’re on another level - I can barely see the gaps in between the root of each lash, and now seem to have an extra row entirely.
OSKIA CITYLIFE CLEANSER
Don’t be scared. Yes, it’s a gel, but it’s as gentle and efficient as any cream/oil/balm I’ve used; more, even. The thick, velvety consistency is soft and (with the addition of water) creamy, perfect for melting makeup away. Aside from its efficiency, my favourite thing about it is is the heady, botanical scent - it almost doubles the benefits because I use this to destress as much as to cleanse, so it makes removing my makeup a very spa-like ritual. Oskia clearly knows exactly what a girl needs after a busy day in the city.
LA ROCHE POSAY HYALU B5 SERUM
Skincare trends come and go, but one thing is for certain - hyaluronic acid is here to stay. With every molecule of hyaluronic acid capable of attracting and retaining 1000x its weight in water, the super-ingredient is beneficial to any and every skintype. It’s a testament to La Roche-Posay that the brand didn’t jump on the hype immediately, but instead spent years developing their contribution to the market - a move which paid off, because boy is this hydrating (expect it to rehydrate your skin to optimum moisture levels in a single use). Simultaneously expert level but accessible (you can get it in Boots) - I fully expect this serum to achieve cult status in 2018.
GLOSSIER WOWDER
All powders promise the same thing: matte skin without cakiness. The thing is, for some of us, matte skin really just isn’t our thing. Which is where Glossier (champions of dewy skin everywhere) comes into play. Wowder does what all powders ought to do - it takes down and prevents shine, but it keeps that je ne sais quoi glow that makes skin looks like skin.
