My requirements for a successful addition to my blush collection call for a light wash of colour that serves to subtly warm, sculpt, and enliven my skintone without looking clown-like. Effortlessly natural and wearable, a barely-there blush dials down the bigger/brighter/bolder associations of rouge and negates the need for precision placement and copious blending.
Read MoreFollowing my recent Sisley facial, I was prescribed a shortlist of products with which to maintain the results of the treatment. In the immediate days following my facial I suffered from a spout of breakouts [which my facialist had warned me to expect - the successful result of any effective skin detox], which then cleared up to reveal a bright, calm, and healthy complexion [redness noticeably reduced and not a spot in sight]. When it comes to maintaining this post-facial glow however, certain rules must be adhered to. Essentially, vigilant commitment to a dedicated routine, acknowledgement that less is never more in the world of skincare [being frugal with your products is far from beneficial], and above all, an arsenal of products tailored towards your specific concerns.
Read MoreWhilst I'm rarely short of beauty products [and as much as I love trying new launches], I am a creature of habit; especially when it comes to beauty products that work really really well, do exactly what they say they will, and make a difference with immediate and lasting effect. This is especially true of skincare; for after years of struggling to find the perfect products for my complexion, when I do fall upon The One, I'm loathe to risk replacing it and tend to stick to those I love.
Read MoreFar from a traditional 'winter scent' Bonbon Tree is fragranced with violet, sandalwood, and carrot, which combine to create an incredibly relaxing and vaguely masculine aroma, a welcome deviation from typically super sweet festive scents.
Read MoreThey may have fallen from favour within the wider blogging community, but I will always remain both an avid reader and committed author of monthly favourites posts. I will always relish a peek into another's bathroom cabinet or makeup bag, and the idea of presenting a capsule collection of beloved beauty products to you on a monthly basis still excites me - barely has the month begun and I am already racking up a list of likely candidates. Today, meet five firm favourites from October, the best of the best of the month.
Read MoreLately I've found myself morphing from a texturising spray fanatic to someone a little more accepting of the hair I've been blessed with. Initially inspired on a sub-conscious level by the sleek, minimalistic hairstyles increasingly spotted on the catwalk at fashion weeks, combined with a desire to find myself an effective, failsafe, minimal-effort-required haircare and styling routine...
Read MoreFor me, autumn is in many ways the clean slate of the calendar, a time for fresh starts in almost every aspect of life, so more than appropriate an occasion for a skincare reboot. Likewise, it goes without saying that a change in seasons goes hand-in-hand with a ritual skincare edit; and the summer-autumn transition brings with it a sudden change in climate that calls for appropriate skincare tweaks.
Read MoreBodycare products typically fall into one of two camps: conventional or luxurious. But there's no reason why a product shouldn't be both, and ultimately the only desirable quality [yes, more so than an aesthetically pleasing bottle], is efficacy. The most-reached for products on our bathroom shelves are the powerhouses of our daily routines; true, reliable, and failsafe, whether we are injecting our skin with a luxuriously scented glow, or a much-needed boost of hydration. Meet the staple products that reign as heroes on my bathroom shelf.
Read MoreFirstly, apologies for the brief blogging hiatus; moving back to the city presented a serious case of 'hitting the ground running' and in order to keep on top of work, study, and life in general, writing was forced to take the brunt of the blow. This month's stand-out products were easy to establish - those that were not relinquished to a stack of cardboard boxes, but remained at my side throughout the drawn out process of my moving mayhem.
Read MoreArguably the most delicate [and therefore easily damaged] area of the skin, the under-eye area is one of the first to reveal our sins when things take a turn for the worse. Dehydration, lack of sleep, stress, anaemia, [and even hereditary factors] all play a role in contributing to the notorious dark circles we are all plagued with, albeit to varying degrees. Whilst my own are far from severe, I do find that a little coverage goes a long way in ensuring a flawless complexion, serving to brighten the eyes and consummating any base look. The cure to those 'little dark circles' encompasses both the science of skincare and the art of makeup in order to ensure that darkness is reduced from inside and out.
Read MoreI've previously employed this space to pay homage to the eyeshadow pencil, my preferred method of application when it comes to enhancing my lids [for both their practicality and ease of use] and as the product that forms the most significant percentage of my eyeshadow collection. Despite their compact form and dexterous performance however, I'm not blind to the merits of alternate options, and have grown increasingly smitten with the concept of cream eyeshadows. They may take a little more work, and lack the portability of pencil form, but the variety of textures and formulas on offer make the genre a joy to explore. Providing a finesse and depth that surpasses the finish of a powder, and offering just a little more texture than a pencil can provide, a good cream eyeshadow can dupe the seemingly complex effect of a skilfully applied traditional eyeshadow blend, making it a perfect choice for the eyeshadow novice.
Read MoreSummer's beauty products have a lot to live up to; from withstanding the rigours of travel to countering the effects of heat and fatigue, the products that prove their prowess are as much lifetime winners as they are seasonal ones. Having spent the first half of the month travelling in 30+ degree temperatures, and the second suffering a summer cold with a discernibly dull and grey vista from my window, these products have more than proven their versatility in meeting every requirement upon the season's agenda.
Read MoreAs a long-term advocate of putting skincare before makeup, I've always had a soft spot for virtuous makeup products. We spend so long focussing on ensuring that our skincare regime is perfectly suited to our complexions and is packed with all of the right ingredients, before throwing it all to pot and slathering our faces with makeup that is more often than not packed with nasties. I'm especially fussy when it comes to base makeup; in my experience, a good foundation [much like a good cleanser] is worth investing in. It's the one product we wear longest, on such a regular basis, and in such close proximity to our skin that we really ought to pay more attention to its formulation.
Read MoreI'll warrant that little introduction is needed as concerns the much coveted Glossier beauty line; the brainchild of Into the Gloss' Emily Weiss, Glossier is a beauty brand with a difference. The aim of the game is fun-to-use beauty products with a wearability that translates into real life, 'skincare as makeup', products that help you to be be the best version of yourself, and not the photoshopped one.
Read MoreMy recent travels called for a makeup bag kitted with seasonally appropriate essentials. Long days spent travelling, temperatures in the high 30s, and nights spent hotel-hopping and even under canvas meant that complex and timely procedures and heavy bases were a definite no-no.
Read MoreFashion chains' beauty ranges are notoriously hit and miss, but it's a little known fact that & Other Stories was originally conceived as a beauty only retailer, making it more than noteworthy in the eyes of any curious beauty enthusiast. Add to that the fact that the makeup and skincare collections were developed in conjunction with leading makeup artist Lisa Butler, and that Ben Gorham [founder of Byredo] formulates the brand's fragrance lines and even the sceptics will lend the brand a favourable eye. Another off-shoot from the H&M Group, & Other Stories is both a chic older sister to Monki and the cool younger sister of COS. Utterly modern and stylish, the Swedish influence is evident in every aspect of the brand's clean, minimalistic aesthetic.
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