January Beauty Edit

Happy Monday everyone! I thought I’d kick off the week by sharing my January beauty edit. I last wrapped things up in November, so I’ve got quite a few products to talk through today – lots of skincare in particular, that I’ve been trialling over the last two months. Summer is a time when I want my complexion to look flawless, natural, and glowing, and a lot of the products that I’ve been using have really been geared to that.

The Makeup Edit

Estee Lauder Double Wear Nude Water Fresh Makeup (Foundation) | This is an old favourite that I found myself reaching for and honestly, I forgot just how good this was. I apply this using the Sigma 3DHD Kabuki brush, and will usually pour a pea-sized amount of product onto my brush before working it in. This has a dewy finish which looks really natural on the skin. It essentially adds a bit of a “lit from within” glow, and I like that the coverage is buildable. The first application is more light to medium coverage, and further product can build this up to full coverage. Starting with the right base is really important for me with this foundation, as the wrong moisturiser underneath can make this look cake-y throughout the day (and I’ll share more on that, soon). I’ve been wearing the shade 3W1 Tawny, which is a good colour match for me at the moment as I have a light tan.

Nude by Nature Illusion Eyeshadow Trio | I’ve really gone back to beauty basics with this compact eyeshadow palette, but what I’ve realised recently is that I have a bit of a “look”. A champagne/light brown shimmer swept across the eye, with a deeper warm brown blended into the crease. This covers me off on both counts, and I like the consistency of the formula. It’s creamy to the touch. You do get a considerable amount of kick up when using a brush, however I haven’t found this really translates to fall out when applied to the eye.

NARS Blush in Gina | A couple years back I went through a bit of a NARS phase, obsessively collecting products probably in part due to the sleek black packaging. But what keep me coming back was the quality of the product inside. Still to this day, one of my favourite products from the brand is their blush in the shade ‘Gina’. It’s a bright peachy coral, which looks gorgeous on the cheeks, especially when you have a bit of a sun kissed glow to your skin already. The formula is very pigmented so a little goes a long way.

Marc Jacobs Air Blush in 506 Flesh & Fantasy | The other blush that I’ve had on heavy rotation is the Air Blush from Marc Jacobs, which is a gorgeous blush duo compact that combines blush strips with luminous highlighting strips. I really really like this blush. The colour is the perfect nude-toned hue, to bring out a bit of a natural flush to the cheeks, and despite the presence of illuminating strips (which do have finely milled flecks of glitter throughout), the finish gives a soft glow while appearing matte on the cheeks.

NARS Laguna Bronzer | A cult classic that I mentioned in my 2018 beauty round up, I’ve continued to find myself reaching for this daily. What I love most is the colour. It’s a neutral-toned brown which warms up on the face beautifully, without looking muddy.

NARS Fort de France Highlight | I’m not the biggest fan of powder highlights as I generally find that they can sit on the skin and look a little… obvious. But, I’m slowly coming around, and the one powder highlight I’ve been reaching for quite regularly is the shade ’Fort de France’ from NARS. This is a lovely pale champagne/golden hue with a fine shimmer throughout. The level of intensity really depends on how much you choose to build this up – too much product can look a little unnatural on the skin so I tend to go in with a light hand with this one on days when I really want to amp up the glow factor.

Marc Jacobs Perfecting Coconut Face Primer | Primers aren’t really a product that feature too heavily in my makeup routine, but the Perfecting Coconut Face Primer from Marc Jacobs was interesting enough to make me want to switch things up. I’d describe this as a lightweight moisturising primer with a subtle coconut scent to it, though after using it for two months, I’m not quite sure that does it justice. I find that this perfectly primes my base whether or not I’ve applied any skincare first (I tried it both ways), and really sets the tone for how my makeup is going to sit. Without this, I find that a few of the foundations I love can end up looking a bit cakey on the skin after 5+ hours of wear, so this is a must if I’m planning on wearing my makeup all day long. Safe to say it’s probably one of my favourite products of the month, and one I’ll be swiftly re-purchasing the moment it starts to run low.

Bobbi Brown Extra Lip Tint in Bare Raspberry | I’ve been flitting between a few different lipsticks over the last couple months, but I keep coming back to this. It’s essentially a tinted lip balm, and I love how nourishing it feels on my lips, while adding a little wash of colour. Summer is definitely a time when I seem to gravitate more towards lipstick finishes that are a bit more sheer, and this ticks all the right boxes.

The Skincare Edit

Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Bright & Plump Moisturiser | I’ve been on a bit of a skincare binge the last two months, and I wanted to run through four moisturisers that I’ve had on rotation and really been enjoying. The first is from Peter Thomas Roth’s Potent-C range. This is the third product I’ve tried from the brand, and each time, I’ve been really happy with the results. The key ingredient here is THD ascorbate; essentially, it’s a form of Vitamin C which has been modified to better penetrate the skin which maximises benefits to your complexion with regular use. For those not familiar with the benefits of Vitamin C, it can stimulate collagen production (something I need as I am well into my thirties now), offset damage from free radicals, and act as an additional protective layer against sun damage. The formula has a lightweight consistency, which I have found can leave a white cast on the skin if not worked in properly. This hasn’t been an issue for me as I’ve used this solely in the evenings. I like balancing out my routine, and I find I’m applying less product overall to my complexion which gives my skincare more opportunity to really work its magic.

Olay Total Effects Whip | Olay is one of those heritage skincare brands that I always tend to associate with two of the female role models in my life – my mum and my grandmother. Both used it – back when it was Oil of Olay – and I’ve always known it to be a brand that just worked. So, I was pretty excited to be invited to the launch of their latest moisturising range, Olay Whip. I’ve been using this most mornings and not much has changed since I shared my first impressions. The consistency is light and airy – it has a bit of a ‘whipped’ texture to it – and it almost melts when warmed up on the skin. It’s when it starts to melt that the texture changes; it has a bit of slip, almost like a combination of water and silicon. This is all down to a new technology they’ve patented which instantly absorbs into the skin. What I really like about this is how it looks on the skin even after hours of wear. Sydney is hot and humid this time of year, and I find I can go about six hours before I start to look a bit shiny with just this on my face. One thing I’m yet to try, is ‘face-mapping’ as I’ve got the whole range at my disposal and each ‘Whip’ has slightly different benefits. I love the idea of a targeted skincare approach, using different products on different parts of the face, depending on what your needs are. Once I get a chance to test this out, I’ll report back!

Kiehls Ginger Leaf & Hibiscus Firming Mask | Kiehls is one of those brands that has always been on my radar, but I’ve only gotten around to trying out recently. The product that really captured my attention has been this beautiful hydrating overnight mask. You probably already now I love a good overnight mask – for me, it’s always been an incredibly effective way of boosting hydration for my combination/oily and dehydrated skin. This has a slight scent to it (I think it’s the hibiscus!), but feels cooling on the skin, and I love the bouncy texture to it, which sinks in and leaves your complexion feeling almost matte. I’ve been reaching for this a few nights a week (when I’m not using the PTR moisturiser), just as I’m on a mission to soften some fine lines that have begun to emerge on my forehead. Would love any other recommendations from Kiehls if you have them!

The Organic Skin Co Vanilla and Amaranth Moisturiser | The final moisturiser that I’ve had thrown into rotation over the last couple of months is the ‘hydration agent’ from The Organic Skin Co. One thing I’m trying to be more mindful of is what I put onto my skin, given it’s our largest organ, so where possible I’m trying to opt for more natural products. This moisturiser is 100% natural and is loaded with organic ingredients, most notably the amaranth seed supercritical extract, which is packed with omega 3 and vitamin E. I really adore the soft vanilla scent, and the formula feels intensely nourishing when applied. It has a bit of a cream to water type of consistency that melts away as you work it into your skin.

The Haircare Edit

Aveda Damage Remedy Intensive Restructuring Treatment | Ever since trying (keyword here is trying) to go blonde in 2017, my hair has never been quite the same. The colour is close to black, and the entire process of bleaching it wreaked havoc on its condition, which I’ve been trying to fix ever since. And I think I’ve finally stumbled across a trio which is working some pretty serious magic on my distressed locks. All three come from Aveda, and I thought I’d kick off which the first product I use, which is an intensive restructuring treatment. I apply a liberal amount after shampooing (the shampoo I use is from the Alterna Caviar range, if you’re curious), and leave this to sit for about four minutes before rinsing. And honestly, my hair has never felt more smooth than in those moments that I’m rinsing out the product, which to me is one of the first indicators that a haircare product is truly working. Most of the dye has grown out now, but it’s my ends that are still suffering a little, and this has helped to soften those and make them feel less coarse.

Aveda Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair & Smooth Infusion Style-Prep Smoother | I follow up the conditioning treatment with these next two products, starting with the daily hair repair. Confession time. I’ve never really used a heat protectant in the past. Up until about August last year, I let my hair air dry, and would then style it with a ghd which probably took me less than five minutes – essentially, minimal heat would be applied to my hair. This has changed as I have been religiously using the Dyson Supersonic to dry my hair for the last five months, so logic would suggest that some kind of protectant would be useful. This is despite the fact that you shouldn’t need to use one with that hair dryer. I apply a little bit of this when my hair is damp and just before I blow dry, along with a little of the Style-Prep Smoother. I have the kind of hair that is naturally just frizzy and doesn’t respond well to humidity, so I was really curious to see how this would work. While it hasn’t gotten rid of all the frizz entirely, I have noticed that it’s minimised, and there seems to be less “frizz volume” around my crown overall.

The Beauty Edit

Sylvaine Delacourte Parfum in Vangelis | My perfume favourites tend to be on the heavier side. I like something with a strong aroma that is going to stick around all day, and the deeper musky ones are often what does the trick. This perfume is all that and more; the fragrance itself is derived from the properties of vanilla in the most clever way. It smells incredibly complex, due to the combination of woody and spicy notes with a sweet finish. The scent is truly intoxicating, and despite being more of a winter fragrance, I’ve found that this works equally well on balmy summer evenings. The overall experience feels very luxurious, compounded by the incredibly weighty bottle. For those not familiar with Sylvaine Delacourte, it’s the namesake brand of the former Perfume Creative Director at Guerlain (so you know it’s going to be good). I picked out Vangelis from the Vanille range after trying out one of the Discovery sets, which is credited back to you when you place an order for a full size perfume.