Phew, I can’t believe we’ve made it through another month. 2020 seems to be absolutely flying by. This past month, I’ve found myself dipping back into some old favourites, including a handful of serums I’ve repurchased and shared here.
One thing I really started to think about in February was how I could streamline my routine. Or at the very least, how the products in my skincare routine could replace or reduce the amount of makeup I applied daily. Time is precious when you’re a new mum, so practicality was the key here.
The Makeup Edit
Clinique Even Better Refresh Hydrating and Repairing Makeup (shade WN 44 tea) | If I had to pick one hero product that I’ve been using on repeat the past month, this would be it. I’d bill this as a light to medium coverage foundation which can be built up to full coverage when layered. I use just a small squeeze of this, and work it into my face using my fingers. The ease of application has made this a total favourite for me, and I just love how natural it looks on the skin. It’s basically undetectable. This gives me a little bit of colour and coverage where I need it. The finish is slightly dewy, slightly matte. Basically, my skin looks like skin. Wear time over the course of the day is excellent too. It doesn’t curdle up or go cakey, and sits really well over the small patch of uneven skin I have near my chin. If you’re on the hunt for a new foundation, I highly recommend getting a sample of this to give it a go.
Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Contour (01 Curvy Contour) | I’ve talked about this cream contour stick before; it’s one of my absolute favourite makeup products, and I was so thrilled to finally have it back on regular rotation. I use this more as a bronzer product than a contour, and love how foolproof it is. It’s super creamy, and can be blended out using your fingers, a dense buffing brush, or a sponge. The shade I have, 01 Curvy Contour, has a red-brown undertone. This adds just the right amount of warmth to the complexion, and it doesn’t apply heavily. You can easily build up the colour in layers to get your desired amount of bronze. Truly one of those products that I just can’t fault.
Clarins Joli Blush (02 Cheeky Pink) | I have to say, I was completely blown away by this blush. While I prefer cream products to powder, I couldn’t get over how ultra-pigmented this is. A little goes a long way (though if you go overboard, just use a sponge with a little concealer to soften the colour). This shade is a rosey-plum hue, which feels fitting as we start to transition into autumn.
Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara | I may have found my perfect mascara, but as a high-volume makeup product, I find I still love the process of trying out other options. I’d heard such incredible things about the Velvet Noir Mascara from Marc Jacobs, so was really excited to give this a go. In terms of appearance, I love how this made my lashes look. Super glamorous and full. It separated all my lashes, gave them length and volume. I didn’t have any issues with flaking along my bottom lash line, however I did find that this does smudge a little on my brow bone. This is a pretty common issue for me with mascara as I have very oily eyelids. If that’s not a problem for you, then this is totally worth the splurge. It gives you that ultra glam, va-va-voom lash look.
The Skincare Edit
Drunk Elephant C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream | I used to save a lot of my “travel-size” minis for exactly that; travel. But of late, I’ve found myself popping them into regular rotation to get a good sense of how they perform. This is one of the few remaining products I had left to try from a Drunk Elephant Christmas set, and it’s fast become a favourite. I’ve noticed that the eye contour area has looked bright and radiant since popping this on regular rotation, and I love the lightweight texture of the cream. I’m still making my way through the mini, but I’m planning to repurchase the full-size when I run out.
Clinique Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator | I have a feeling this is my third tub of this moisturiser. Safe to say, it’s a total winner in my skincare stash. I’ve mentioned previously how much I love Clinique’s moisture surge range in general, and this is probably my favourite of the lot. Being a gel formula, it has a nice cooling feeling on the complexion – perfect for during our hot summers. It dries down to a matte-like finish, so I like to marry this with creamy primer before going in with any base/foundation products.
Clinique iD Dramatically Different Moisturising BB Gel | I’m always on board for personalised skincare. To me it just makes sense, so I was thrilled to finally be able to give the Clinique iD range a try. I opted for the green cartridge to help ease the lingering faint redness I have around my nose/chin, which I put down to contact dermatitis/eczema. This also has a gel-like consistency, and has quickly become my go-to moisturiser for day when I’m going (mostly) makeup-free. Something I hadn’t expected when I initially gave this a go, was the light particles of pigment which seem to be activated on contact with your skin. For me, it has a brightening effect, and with a little bit of concealer under the eyes, I’m usually pretty happy with how my skin looks after application. A little goes a long way with this; I find one pump is adequate to cover my entire face.
Avene Micellar Lotion | As the first step in my evening skincare routine, I’ll always start off with a micellar water to kick start the process of removing my eye makeup. I’m not particularly loyal to any brand yet (still on the hunt for the perfect one), and this micellar lotion from Avene was next up in my stash to use. While it feels like a water on the skin, the way it removes makeup reminds me a little of an oil. It’s really effective at attacking all the mascara and eyeliner I’ve applied, however I do find that it does irritate/sting my eyes if I decant too much onto a cotton pad. I like that it doesn’t feel drying on the skin. This is a huge bonus as my skincare routine is all about hydration, hydration, hydration.
Olay “Energizing” Utimate Hydration Essence | Facial mists are definitely one of those extra steps in a skincare routine that I don’t think are totally necessary, but I personally love the process. It’s a step that feels luxurious, and can add a bit of extra moisture to your complexion. This mist from Olay is super fine, so I like to spray it relatively close to my face. It has the most vibrant and fruity scent, and absorbs quickly into my skin. One of the key ingredients is Niacinamide – something I know many women swear by – and the addition of Vitamin C and Bergamot extract give a brightening effect.
