My favourite season – Spring – has finally arrived, and while I’m super ready to get my glow on makeup-wise (what better time, right?), I wanted to share the beauty bits that were new or repurchases as part of my daily routine in August. So let’s dive right in…
The Makeup Edit
Clarins Everlasting Youth Fluid SPF15 in shade ‘105 nude’ | A few weeks ago I was invited to Clarins Head Office for a one-on-one colour matching session for their latest foundation launch, the Everlasting Youth Fluid. Having tried (and loved) the Serum Foundation, I was so excited to give this a go. I’ve been using it most days since, and overall, I really like the way it looks on my skin. It’s a light to medium coverage foundation with a satin finish. I tend to opt for a sheerer coverage as I find that works best on my complexion, taking a damp beauty blender/sponge and working a small amount of product in where I need in most – generally around my mouth and chin, across my cheeks, and a little on my forehead. This is the kind of foundation I find looks best after it’s been on for an hour or so, and the product has melted into your skin. It wears beautifully too – I’ve usually got a good glow on by the end of the day.
Perricone MD No Makeup Blush | I’m a big cream blush kinda girl, especially as we hit the spring/summer season, as I just love the way that the sit on your skin. This “no makeup” blush from Perricone MD (along with the bronzer and highlight) have been on my ‘to-try’ list for a while, and after feeling a little inspired by some of my fave beauty gurus, I decided to splurge and pick this up. I have not been disappointed. The bottle might seem small, but it packs a serious punch. The doe foot applicator is great for dispersing the desired amount of product onto your cheeks. I usually apply two or three dots depending on how much product I’m after, and press it into the skin with a duo-fibre brush before blending upwards towards the temple. This blends out so smoothly, with no patchiness, and the colour is an absolute dream. It’s the perfect peachy pink. Wear time is pretty good too. Inevitably it’s more intense when first applied, but it sticks around and has more of a natural flush after a good 7-8 hours of wear.
Hourglass Caution Mascara | My hunt for the perfect mascara continues, and one that came highly recommended was the Caution Mascara from Hourglass. I’ve been using this on and off for a month now, and I’ve got some pretty strong impressions. First, I love the way this makes my lashes look; full yet wispy. And it doesn’t smudge along my brow bone – a massive plus as this is usually a sore point for me with most mascaras. The only downside is that while it doesn’t smudge, it flakes, leaving a dark shadow under my eyes – not the most flattering. I’m not sure if this is just because my tube is still “fresh”, but I’d love to know whether you’ve had a similar experience as while I’m all set to love this mascara, the flakiness is the one thing that’s been stopping me.
Clarins Wonder Perfect Mascara 4D | The second mascara I tried this past month is from Clarins, and this one has probably been my favourite of the two. While it doesn’t have the same glam factor as the Hourglass mascara, this is perfect for everyday. It gives volume and length, barely smudges on my brow bone at all, and doesn’t flake. The formula is quite wet so I have to be careful when applying it so it doesn’t transfer onto my eyelid. It’s a really solid option for day-to-day.
The Skincare Edit
Ella Bache Granule-Free Micro Exfoliant | I’ve been exclusive using a creme cleanser from Ella Bache both morning and night for the past two months, but decided to throw this in recently as an extra step 1-2 nights per week. Unlike other exfoliants I’ve tried, this looks and applies like a gel cleanser, becoming milky when mixed with water. As someone with quite sensitive skin, this really appealed to me as I love the ability to exfoliate without rubbing any grains across my complexion (which can cause micro-tears).
Clarins Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover | Liquid eye liner is a pretty big part of my every day makeup look – though applying the perfect cat eye flick is only half the work. The other half is removing it (along with my mascara) at the end of the day. This eye makeup remover from Clarins had been on my wishlist since last year, and I finally managed to get my hands on it, and it’s a sure winner. The product doesn’t feel oily on the skin, yet does a great job of breaking down makeup, without irritating my eyes – a common cause of complaint for me with other brands. I’ll douse a cotton pad with the makeup remover, and let that soak into my skin slightly before pressing and swiping away my eye makeup. Works a charm and has been a great first step as part of my evening skincare routine.
Clinique Moisture Surge Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate | Of all the skincare ranges out there, the one I always know I can rely on is the Moisture Surge range from Clinique. After finally making my way through the last of my StriVectin Hydrating Serum, I decided to dip back into this as my morning hydration booster. The formula is quite wet and slippery, but sinks into your skin quickly. For extra moisture, I go for three pumps and also run the product down my neck. My only complaint? It’s super easy to run through this product – I’ve got less than half a tube left!
Indie Lee I-Waken Eye Serum | I have to admit, I get a little lazy when it comes to eye cream. For me it’s always just felt a bit like one skincare step too many. But after a recent skin consultation and facial (I went to Infinity Skin in Surry Hills), I learned that a big area of dehydration for me was around my eyes which can have the appearance of fine lines. To try and combat that, I’ve been dipping into this serum from Indie Lee, and it’s fast become a favourite. I use this in the morning; it feels very light on the skin, and seems to have an instant brightening effect. I get a bit of darkness around my inner corners, and since using this I’ve noticed that I’m less reliant on concealer (and am actually using it far less!).
The Beauty Edit
L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil | I don’t think that body care gets more bougie than this – at least not in my books. My skin has been feeling ultra dehydrated of late, so I decided to repurchase this as a bit of a treat. It’s essentially an oil product that lathers up slightly when put in contact with water. I apply this directly to my skin rather than using a cloth or sponge. This is so effective; after using this daily for two weeks, the eczema patch on my forearm has disappeared, and my skin no longer looks like the Sahara desert the second I’ve towelled myself off after a shower. It helps that the scent is utterly divine too – a slightly floral, nutty almond aroma. If you’re on a budget, I’d probably skip this in favour of something more affordable, but if you’re up for a little luxury during your morning routine, this is worth taking a second or even a third look at.
Aveda Smooth Infusion Shampoo | Another repurchase this month, I recently ran out of my last bottle so had to pick up another. When it comes to my haircare routine, about 90% of the products I use are from Aveda; I love the brand’s ethos, and they’ve been some of the most effective I’ve tried. My hair has quite a bit of volume when freshly washed, and does get a bit frizzy especially near my crown, and this has helped to tame that considerably. I usually follow up the Smooth Infusion Shampoo with a conditioning treatment from Aveda’s Damage Repair line.
Jo Malone Poppy & Barley Cologne | Some of my most reached for fragrances this year have been from Jo Malone, so it’s little surprise that I was pretty excited to spot their newest cologne – Poppy & Barley – pop up in my PO Box. This feels a bit like a spring or midsummer scent; it has a top note of blackcurrant, heart note of poppy and a base note of barley. Lately I’ve been wearing this just on its own, though am curious to see how it layers with some of my other JM fragrances, particularly the more earthy, woodsy scents.
