I still remember the first perfume I ever purchased; Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolf. I probably went through about four bottles before I decided it was time for something new. Not to say that I was a little tired of the scent – far from it – eight years on, and it still ranks as one of my favourite perfumes. Mostly, it was because it was almost impossible to go out with friends without finding that at least one other person was wearing the same fragrance. It started what has seemingly become the years long search for a new ‘signature scent’.
Since then, I’ve found it difficult to find a fragrance which is more than a passing fancy – you need to be more than sure when you’re committing to a whole bottle. The first is YSL’s Parisienne, which I picked up while browsing duty free on the way to Taiwan in 2011. It’s a little bit sexy and a little musky; and while I may have worn it religiously for day, it’s definitely more of an ‘evening out’ perfume. I tend to break this one out when I’m heading out for drinks or dinner with friends.
My third perfume, I picked up from Mecca, after careful deliberation over the Diptyque range. I think I went in on about four or five occasions, spritzing myself with a different perfume each time until I narrowed it down to DoSon. This to me smells of Spring time, with a sharp floral scent in tune with the budding blossoms of the season. And truthfully, I just couldn’t resist the crisp white packaging and bold black typography – it’s all very clean, and quintessentially French.
More recently, I decided to add a new fragrance to the mix, one that I hadn’t expected to like quite as much as I actually do; ‘Si’ by Georgio Armani. What drew me to this perfume was that Cate Blanchett was the face of it, more than anything else, and I’m so glad I tried it. Sitting somewhere on the spectrum between my YSL and Diptyque fragrances, Si is light, with notes of blackcurrant and musk. Out of all my perfumes, this has become my favourite for every day wear as it isn’t overpowering, and works just as well for day as it does for night.
It’s certainly a little more grown up than Flowerbomb, but I think I’ve finally found it; my new signature scent.
It’s been a hot minute since my last beauty update; and given that the end of the year is literally in plain sight, I thought I’d pull together a handful of new-“ish” products I’ve been using, and break down my thoughts. I thought it’d be a nice way to wrap things up before I share my best in beauty for the year.
For context, my skin tends to be relatively blemish-free, is oily/combination but dehydrated, and as I inch closer to my mid-thirties my concerns are focused around addressing dullness, pigmentation (hereditary), and fine lines/wrinkles. I favour dewy, natural looking makeup for complexion so I can have fun with the eyes and lips. And for my hair, it’s quite dry and thick; prone to frizziness and can get coarse if I don’t maintain it well.
SKINCARE
Glossier Futuredew Oil Serum Hybrid | This might technically be “skincare”, but I’ve been using the Glossier Futuredew more as a primer for makeup. And for me, that’s been working wonders. It’s an oil and serum hybrid, which initially rang alarm bells for me. Oils are generally on my to avoid list as I always, always, break out when I add it into my routine. The texture is more like a thick, gooey cream, and it works into the skin beautifully, leaving a luminous glow which creates the perfect canvas for makeup. This is the type of product I’d happily use on makeup-free days to make my skin look dewy and fresh. One I’ll be repurchasing again and again (via mail forwarding!).
Sunday Riley C.E.O Vit C Brightening Serum | Vitamin C is a pretty core part of my skincare routine. I use it morning and night, to add brightness to my complexion. A necessary step given my sleep is generally interrupted; so think of it as my skin saviour. Sunday Riley is a brand which has continued to impress me. Their skincare is highly effective, and I just really adore this product. Not only does it have a concentration of Vitamin C at 15%, but it also has glycolic acid (for gently exfoliating away dead skin cells), and hyaluronic acid (to plump up your complexion). Besides, you know a product like this is doing you good when a friend comments on how your complexion is glowing. More of that, please.
Antipodes Glow Ritual Vit C Serum | The other Vitamin C serum that I’ve been using is from Antipodes; another one of my most beloved brands. There’s very few products I’ve tried from them which haven’t worked out for me. I like to this of this as liquid gold. It’s formulated with Kakadu Plum, a fruit with the highest recorded concentration of Vitamin C. It has other star ingredients like Vinanza Grape and Kiwi, which both have a hydrating and brightening effect. I prefer to use this exclusively in the evening as I find it leaves a subtle gold glow to the face when applied. That said, it’s easily become one of my favourite products to use. My skin feels softer and looks brighter when this is part of my routine.
Biossance Squalane + Amino Aloe Gentle Cleanser | I’m not sure why, but whenever I see the word “gentle”, I always go in assuming that I’ll have to double cleanse. I wear pretty heavy duty eyeliner and eye makeup on a daily basis, so efficacy is really key for me; especially as by the end of the day, I’m pretty keen to run through my skincare routine as speedily as possible. So I was pleasantly surprised to find that this new cleanser from Biossance was not only gentle and soft on the skin, but actually did an excellent job of breaking down all my makeup. No second cleanse needed. It’s a gel formulation which foams up ever so slightly, but never feels like it’s stripping your skin of essential oils. Honestly, I’m impressed. I like this way more than their Elderberry Jelly Cleanser (which is nice, but a little too gentle for my needs).
Tarte Drink of H2O Hydrating Boost | Gel moisturisers are generally my hydrator of choice during the warmer months. Anything too heavy, and my skin will have a freak out. This Tarte gel moisturiser has been my go-to of late, and the fact that I’ve almost finished it up probably tells you all you need to know. It’s nice, and I enjoy using it. Though there are loads of other gel moisturisers out there that perform the same way, so I’d probably shop my stash over rushing out to replace this one. But if it did find its way back into my vanity, I also wouldn’t complain. It’s gentle and non-irritating, unscented and doesn’t flare up my dermatitis like some other products would. The gel formulation is cooling, and it doesn’t interfere with any makeup products I apply over the top of it. That said, if my skin is feeling severely dehydrated, this won’t quite cut it. Usually I’ll go in with some sort of mist on top if needed.
MAKEUP
Clinique Even Better Clinical Serum Foundation | I can be pretty fussy when it comes to base products. I want my skin to look like skin; a bit of dewiness, and redness covered. And I do love when my freckles peek through – it looks more natural. Clinique’s a brand I’ve used consistently over the years, their chubby sticks and Moisture Surge products sit up there with my favourites. So it’s disappointing to have to share that this latest foundation launch just wasn’t the one for me. I found at least on my skin, the way this settled – regardless of application and prep – was visible to my eye where other bases that I love aren’t. It also would break up slightly. So, it could be perhaps in response to my skincare routine. It has a matte, satin finish, and loads of skincare benefits. Which is part of the reason I’m so sad that this foundation didn’t work for me. Loaded up with hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, and vitamin C, I can appreciate what a powerhouse staple this can be. My personal preferences aside, the colour range is phenomenal, and you’ll get full, buildable coverage with this one.
Clinique Even Better All-Over Concealer + Eraser | Part of the same family as the above foundation is this concealer. Skincare and makeup in one, this has Vitamin C (for brightening), caffeine, and hyaluronic acid (for hydrating). Again, this just wasn’t the one for me. I find the formulation a little too dry for my undereye area, despite it being quite thick; it tends to gather in my fine lines. Full coverage, and very brightening, I will use this in a pinch. The doe foot applicator is dual-ended with a sponge tip at the handle, though I find this a little stiff for using in such a delicate place. I prefer to pat this in with fingers or with a fluffy brush.
Glossier Solar Paint (in Ray) | Give me creams over powder face products any day. Bronzer in particular is one I like to use in cream format. While it typically isn’t as long-lasting as a powder, it meshes in with your complexion rather than sitting on top of it. Naturally, when I heard Glossier were releasing a cream bronzer, I was intrigued. And decided to throw it in with my order to give it a go. The colour is beautiful; it has this slight metallic quality to it when applied to the face (with a doe foot applicator – love this), which adds a bit of glow when buffed out. Overall, I really like this, but I do think you need to work at the blending to ensure it doesn’t look muddy. Especially on areas like the neck. ‘Ray’ is a good colour for me too; adds a nice sun kissed glow to the face.
Glossier Cloud Paint (in Beam and Dusk) | Hands down one of the best beauty products I’ve tried recently. I tend to be a creature of habit and don’t change much with my makeup routine, but these have been a firm favourite since they arrived. Personally, I prefer the shade ‘Dusk’, a very neutral brown nude, which I find works well pulled higher up on the cheeks, and on the high points of the face like a stereotypical bronzer. A little goes a long way with these blushes, so start off small as you can go overboard pretty quickly. I find that they have a slightly tacky quality on the skin, but don’t budge at all; probably one of the longest-lasting makeup products I currently have on rotation. If you try just one thing from Glossier, make it this.
HAIRCARE & BODYCARE
I should probably preface this final section by saying, after years of being a loyalist to one product, I’ve been mixing things up. I have three different shampoo/conditioner combos on the go; all of which I’m enjoying. For me, I notice some rather subtle changes to the texture and condition of my hair depending on which products I reach for.
Chloe Zara Hair – Silk Hair Wash, Silk Hair Condition & Silk Hair Balm | I thought it might be easiest to chat about these products as a trio. For me, the key thing I notice when using Chloe Zara Hair is that my hair feels silkier and is softer – less frizz (something I’m perpetually trying to combat). The formulation lathers up beautifully and doesn’t feel like it’s stripping my hair at all. The Silk Hair Balm in particular has become part of my regular haircare ritual. It’s designed to be used more as a treatment that’s rinsed out, but I like to use it as a leave in product. I run a walnut sized amount through my hair when it’s still damp, just before blowdrying. Love that it adds a lot of shine, and my hair just feels healthier.
Klorane Volume Shampoo & Conditioner | Klorane’s Dry Shampoo is probably one of my oft-used haircare products, along with their hydrating Mango Hair Mask. So when I got sent their Volume range, I was super curious to see how it’d work with my hair. And you know, I like it. I’ve been using this as part of my rotating trio of haircare products, and the thing I notice when I use them is that my hair is noticeably more voluminous. Perhaps a little more frizzy than with the Chloe Zara or Gisou products. The Dry Shampoo from this range is mega effective too – great for reviving limp hair in need of a wash. It’s the flax fibre which adds volume, without weighing down your hair. And a little goes a long way – it lathers up to a super rich foam with just a small amount.
Bumble and Bumble Bb Thickening Dryspun Texture Spray | Despite using this on and off for the past couple of months, my mind still isn’t quite made up on it yet. With haircare, my personal approach is not to go overboard. Like with makeup, I tend to think less is more. But I find when I use a “light” and with this texture spray, that it does… well… nothing. A small little bit of grit but no noticeable texture or volume. It’s when I go crazy and use 1/4 of the can that I see progress. And it’s then, that I actually love the impact. My hair has grit, it retains a curl, and stays voluminous, even on day 5. Which has me torn. On the one hand I really appreciate what this does for my hair when I’m liberal with application, but it’s a sure-fire way to burn through the product – I’d be buying a full-size bottle every 4 weeks at least. For me that’s just not practical. I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for alternatives – recommendations welcome!
Gisou Honey Infused Hair Wash and Conditioner | This was a purchase that was definitely inspired by Instagram. At least, seeing so many people using the Gisou Hair Oil. I wasn’t in the market for an oil, but loved the concept of a honey infused shampoo and conditioner. Rich and nourishing were the two attributes which immediately came to mind. I’d say in terms of hair texture, softness and shine, this is on par with the Chloe Zara haircare. Oh, and as you’d expect, it smells positively heavenly.
Nécessaire The Body Oil | In place of a body lotion, I’ve been reaching for this absolutely lush body oil from my favourites, Necessaire. I’ll apply this as part of my “after shower” routine. It immediately sinks into the skin, and doesn’t leave it feeling greasy or sticky. And my god is it nourishing. I’ve never had especially dry legs, but usually will have to apply a moisturiser during the warmer months out of necessity. Definitely a had-to-have in my body care routine, and a stand out from the brand. I occasionally will get the odd patch of eczema on my legs, and haven’t had a single flare up since I started using this. One thing to highlight is that the dropper does leak so you’ll want to store this one upright. Also, it’s glass packaging; which in its own right feels very luxe. I’ve had a narrow miss where I dropped both the pipette and the glass jar on the floor. Thankfully wasn’t a casualty.
My approach to skincare has always been relaxed at best. Some mild exfoliator or soap to cleanse my face each morning, and the odd bit of moisturiser when it was deemed necessary. Minimal yes, but not enough to achieve that effortlessly flawless skin that I’ve so been craving.
After a couple of minor break outs due to alternating between skincare brands, I finally found myself delving into the world of beauty, devouring each and every recommendation, tip, and ‘secret’ that it had to offer. I’d heard good, no, great things about Grown Alchemist; and with the words 100% certified organic, I was hooked. Fast forward to early November, and in a somewhat serendipitously timed sale, I found myself purchasing a generous selection from Grown’s skincare range.
My experience so far has been overwhelmingly positive, as each morning I find myself enchanted by the soft soothing scents of rose, geranium and sweet summer berries. My skin has been left feeling smooth and silky, enhancing my natural disposition to believe that organic truly is best. And so, just like that, my skincare regime changed; for the better too.
I start my mornings by splashing some warm water on my face, gently rubbing the cleanser into my skin before rinsing it off; making sure to follow with some cool water on my skin (to close the pores). I follow up with a small amount of toner, and carefully dab a small amount of serum to my forehead and the corners of my eyes. Lastly, I rub moisturiser onto my face and neck in a soft, circular motion. Every third day, I exfoliate, and once a week, I use a skin masque to remove any impurities from my pores.
I’ve never been one of those girls who manages to accumulate drawers and drawers of beauty products, always opting for the most minimal approach possible. There’s something satisfying in knowing that your make-up routine takes less than five minutes to apply, and can easily be cut down to the basics of bronzer and mascara when time is too tight.
For Spring, I like to dial it down a notch, and this year I envision myself playing up the lips a little with just a slick of mascara on my lashes. I’ll be keeping my nails fairly subtle, with a few neutrals and the quintessential reds being my varnishes of choice, and my scent, as always, YSL Parisienne.
One thing I was reflecting on recently, is how our beauty routine ebbs and flows. From an elaborate multi-step regime, to one that is pared back. Minimal even. And right now, I’m finding myself in the latter camp. Less desire to try or use new products, instead focusing on a handful of core staples. Seeking out something new to try only when an empty pops up rather than on a whim like before. It reminds me a lot of my routine in my late teens and early twenties. Prior to discovering the world of skincare. Despite not having a robust stash of skincare (I think I may have had two cleansers, and that was it), my complexion was blemish-free and smooth. And I find whenever I’m having an angry skin moment, taking it back to basics (cleanser + moisturiser) is the trick to calming things down. Curious to know whether you do the same…
Anyway, let’s chat though my top three for June.
Emma Lewisham Illuminating Oil Face Cleanser
A bit of a cheat as the Illuminating Oil Face Cleanser from Emma Lewisham literally just arrived in the mail. And maybe I’m jumping the gun here, but this is good. Two pum ps was enough oil to cleanse my face, starting dry and working it in primarily around the eyes which always seems to be a tricky spot for makeup removal. The main thing I noticed was just how clean my skin looked; free from makeup, bright, but luminous. Which is part of the appeal of an oil cleanser. It doesn’t feel like it’s stripping the skin. Instead, quite the opposite. Nourishing by nature.
I can’t speak to its antioxidant properties, but some of the key ingredients include Organic Chia, Rosehip, Macadamia and Neroli Absolute, along with Camelia oil. Gentle, but deeply penetrative ingredients which don’t disrupt the skin’s natural lipid barrier and act as a hydrator to keep skin looking healthy and plump.
Also worth nothing that all Emma Lewisham products are designed to be circular; the brand will take back used packaging, or alternatively you can purchase refills if you stumble across a product you love. Safe to say this has been a “brand to watch” for me for some time, and first impressions seem to be speaking volumes here.
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser Blush
This next favourite is an “oldie” but a goodie; the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser Blush. A product I’m so happy to have rediscovered, because it’s good. And I mean really good. The tell was when I was doing a quick mirror check yesterday afternoon, and realised that my blush was giving me the same flushed appearance as when it was applied, 10 hours earlier. Often, it would be at this point that I’d be seeking out a little top up, especially if I have evening plans. So it was a little surprising as I’d forgotten how well the formula of this Laura Mercier blush adheres to the cheek.
I’ve been alternating between two shades: Corsica (a heavily saturated peach) and Mediterannee (a washed out peach hue). Which even in the thick of winter, these peachy shades tend to bring out the best in my complexion.
One thing I will say, is that a little goes a long way. I’ll squeeze a couple of small dots onto each cheek, and blend and buff out with a blush brush. You need to work reasonably quickly as once the liquid dries down, it’s not going anywhere. Also love that you can immediately tell what colour you’re seeking out just from the tube. A total win and one that I’ve been using on heavy rotation (along with my Merit Beauty Flush Balm, and Glossier Cloud Paint).
it Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream
This product has a bit of a caveat. I’ve been a long-time lover of the original CC cream from it Cosmetics. The satin finish version, which is high coverage and will high away all matter of redness, while looking skin-like on application. But the shade I have is far, far too dark for my complexion. And while I’d been making it work with a couple of mix-ins, I’d almost run out so figured, time for a top up. The shade I needed wasn’t available in-store, and the closest option was the “oil-free matte”, so I took a bit of a gamble.
The highlights are generally the same. Coverage is high with little product required, and it’s comfortable to wear. But I find the matte quality of it a little jarring. Especially coming off a good 18 months + of solely wearing base products with a satin or dewy finish. So I’ve been relying on mix-ins to give me a bit of healthy glow. Namely, my beloved ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint. This helps to also thin out the formula a little to give my complexion a little more space to shine through. And it has the added benefit of evening out the shade to something a little closer to my natural complexion. Having olive skin means it can be a challenging feat to find a complexion product that matches the undertone and neutrality I’m seeking.
While it might be branded as a “CC” Cream, to me this is more of a full coverage foundation. One worth trying if you’re still yet to add it to your rotation.
I’ve always been that girl who was completely clueless about make up. Following the lead of my friends in high school, I slicked some mascara on my top lashes, and smudged a little black kohl in the bottom corners of my eyes. I couldn’t say whether I ever bothered to moisturize, the only real “regime” I had was washing my face with a light organic scrub. Over the years, this evolved little by little. I discovered bronzing powder, which has become a daily necessity so that I don’t look overly pale, kohl pencil was replaced with liquid eyeliner on the eyelid, and a bit of luminous gold under the eye.
One thing I always shied away from though, were lipsticks. Finding the right shade seemed to always elude my many efforts, and for a time, I all but gave up. It wasn’t until I went to America two years ago that I finally committed to buying myself at least one lipstick during our many visits to MAC stores around the country. My first purchase was ‘viva glam’, a lipstick with a subtle shimmer, enough to have a slight sheen on my lips but not so shocking as a vibrant red would have been. A couple more lipstick purchases from MAC followed, but nothing of any significance, and those I purchased seemed to be reserved for those few days on which I actually remembered that I owned lipstick of some variety.
Over the last two months, that’s all changed. My lipstick collection is now bulging at the seams, thanks to some top ups from Fashion Week, PeadPR and a spree on StrawberryNET. In favor of sporadically using a lippie from MAC, my current (almost) daily go-to seems to alternate between L’Oreal and Clinique, a combination of punchy summertime brights and deep luscious reds. Since I appreciate a good beauty tip – as virtually any beauty knowledge is new knowledge to me – I thought I’d share with you what I’m currently loving.
Clinique Chubby sticks – Most Antipodean bloggers I know swear by these, stocking up big time on their frequent visits to Sephora while in the USA. I love that these are incredibly moisturising, and give your lip a subtle bit of colour, and their double duty as a lip liner. I’m currently using these in ‘chunky cherry’ and ‘super strawberry’
Clinique Long Last lipsticks – These lippies are virtually what convinced me that I needed to have more in my beauty box. My first, a collaboration between Clinique and Karen Walker which had a zingy tangerine hue to it, slicked on rather effortlessly and stayed on for hours and hours. No lip liner necessary, these were like Lipstick 101 for me. My two current favourites are ‘party red’ and ‘runway coral’, depending on the occasion.
L’Oreal ColorSensational – Definitely not for the wallflower, or for the girl whose afraid to put a bit of colour on her lips. What I love about these lipsticks is that they are incredibly moisturising, and the colour just seems to pop; such a quick and easy way to add a bit of brightness into what is often a dull winter day. I’ve been swapping between ‘vivid rose’ and ‘shocking coral’, as I can’t decide which one I like most. One has a pink toned base, the other, orange.
L’Oreal Infallible in ‘ravishing red’ & L’Oreal Color Riche in ‘intense plum’ – Pretty much my ideal winter lipsticks. Both glide on smoothly, with no need for lip liner and seldom require top ups through the day. Having spent a long time looking for the perfect red lipstick, ‘ravishing red’ has pretty much become my go-to, which considering I tend to find a lot of red lipsticks overpowering, says a lot. For days when I’m wearing a lot of black, which honestly is most days at the moment, I’m enjoying wearing the Color Riche ‘intense plum’ lipstick (for Brunettes), slightly gothic with its deep and rich berry tone. Like it would suggest, it seems to complement my dark hair perfectly, just as much as the pale tones of my face.
MAC – These have rather unfortunately slipped to the wayside, as I’ve found the lippies to be far more high maintenance than the others I own, which is a shame as my favourite berry hue is MAC’s ‘positively dashing’. In my experience, aside from the Lustre lippie in ‘viva glam’, these tended to dry out my lips rather quickly, and weren’t ideal if I was planning on a night out with the girls. Also, lip liner is totally required, and considering how low maintenance my beauty regime is, I haven’t really gotten that far..
While my experiences using lipstick isn’t as extensive as that of others, I find it doesn’t take long to find a product you like so much that it is almost like a second skin or an extension of yourself, akin to one of those morning rituals you can never seem to break.
