My main focus in May – aside from getting my daily videos ready and uploaded on time – was skincare. I’m not sure what it is about travel, but I find my complexion always has a bit of a mini freak out. It probably didn’t help that I had a bit of hormonal acne, and I’d been consuming more sugar than usual. Basically, despite having some amazing products on hand, my skin wasn’t looking its best.
While I try to take care with what I am applying to my face (our skin is our body’s largest organ), I test out more products than the average person. Consistency, and good diet, are usually the key to a bright and clear complexion for me. I liked the idea of starting with a fresh slate, so early on in the month I gave my skincare routine a re-jig. I’ve been trialling a few other products since (which I’ll talk about next month), but I thought for a change it might be fun to kick off my May Beauty Edit with skincare first.
The Skincare Edit
StriVectin Multi-Action Moisture Matrix Melting Cleanser | It’s probably been over the last few months that I’ve really warmed up to the idea of a double cleanse. Previously, it just felt like too much work. I’ve been kicking off the two-step process with this cleanser from StriVectin. This has a unique formula in that it starts off as a gel on dry skin, melts into an oil as it’s massaged into your face, and then transforms into a milk with the addition of water. This reminds me a little of a Shu Uemura cleansing oil I used years ago; very gentle, emollient, and effective at removing make up. I’ll usually use a face cloth or Face Halo on my eyes to remove any stubborn bits of mascara or eyeliner. Luke’s also taken to reaching for this daily and won’t use anything else – a sign it’s a total winner in our household.
Ella Bache Rinse-Off Cleansing Milk | I tend to alternate my second cleanser, but the one I’ve consistently been reaching for (as well as using first thing in the morning) is from Ella Bache. Again, this feels so gentle on my complexion. It’s a cleansing milk so has a cream-based formula that doesn’t lather up. It’s enriched with three different nut oils which would explain why it feels so nourishing on my skin, and I love it doesn’t leave my face feeling stripped of its natural oils. Unlike the cleanser from StriVectin, this won’t completely remove eye-makeup on its own, which is why I find it best for a morning cleanse or as part of a two-step evening cleansing routine. When I’m not using this for my second cleanse, I’ll usually go in with this cream foaming cleanser from Clarins.
Clarins Toning Lotion with Iris | My complexion is generally quite dry during autumn/winter, so I base a lot of my skincare routine around soothing and hydrating my skin. For toner, I’ve been using the Clarins Toning Lotion with iris both morning and night. I will pour a few drops into the palm of my hand and then press this into my face. It has a faint scent which smells really refreshing, and I find this is a great option for me, especially along my t-zone where I get a bit oily. The biggest difference I’ve noticed since using this is that my pores appear to look smaller and tighter – again, another winner this past month.
Tarte Deep Sea Collagen Super Serum (also here) | I’ve had this tucked away in my beauty drawer since February, but only just recently thought to start using it regularly. This has fast become one of my favourite products to apply. It’s a bio-phase serum, and even when mixed up, it has a slightly oily texture to it but doesn’t feel oily on the skin. This has sea-based collagen in it, which I feel has made a pretty big impact to my complexion. It locks in hydration and serves as a great base for makeup – when I use this, I generally don’t need to prime my skin before applying foundation.
StriVectin Advanced Acid Dual-Response Serum | It’s probably pretty clear by now how big an element hydration plays in my autumn/winter skincare routine. I’ve been using this as an add-on on mornings when my skin is particularly dry (before the Tarte serum) and consistently at night. What’s interesting is the delivery system; the bottle has dual chambers – one with six forms of hyaluronic acid, and one with NIA-144 (a form of Niacin/Vitamin B3). The formula feels silky and lightweight to the touch, but instantly hydrating on the skin. Another big thumbs up from me. PS. If you’re wondering where to get StriVectin in Australia, I recently spotted it in-store at Priceline.
Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil | One of the things I love most about my skincare routine, is that’s it’s pretty heavily tailored towards my skincare concerns. Hydration in particular is at the top of my winter skincare hit list, so it’s usually around this time of year that I start upping the ante with extra-nourishing oils and serums. I’ve been reaching for this face oil from Clarins a few times a week, usually at night. I’d class this as a dry oil; it’s emollient to the touch but quickly sinks into the skin. There’s no oily/greasy residue – my face feels matte but soft. Aside from mixing this in with the SOS Face Mask, I like to use a generous few drops of this all on its own. My favourite ingredient is the hazelnut oil, which is ultra nourishing and helps to protect against dehydration.
Ella Bache Spiralines Creme-Green Lift | I recently had a facial treatment at the Ella Bache Spa, and this was one of the products I walked away with. I love the texture; it’s smooth and velvety and is thicker than some of my other day/night creams, but doesn’t feel heavyweight when applied. The key ingredient is spirulina – a source of chlorophyll – which helps your skin to retain moisture and keep hydrated. Safe to say I’ve had this on heavy rotation since adding it to my beauty stash.
Aveda Tulasara Wedding Masque (also here) | I’ve talked about this overnight mask countless times now. No matter what else I try, I always come back to this. It truly is a holy grail skincare product for me. I like to use this both in the morning and night, and find that no other moisturiser hydrates my skin like this does. I get a recurring eczema patch near my upper lip, and this is the only thing that’ll help calm it down and drive moisture back into my skin.
The Makeup Edit
Estee Lauder Double Wear Nude Water Fresh Makeup (also here) | As much as I love the it Cosmetics CC Cream, the shade match is a little too dark for me now that my tan has faded. So I’ve found myself reaching back for an old favourite; the Double Wear foundation from Estee Lauder. Despite being more of a medium to full coverage foundation, this never looks cakey on my skin. Using a damp beauty blender, I can get a lovely even but semi-sheer finish that looks natural. And a little goes a long way. I also like that this has SPF in it, as it gives my skin a little more protection for when I’m out in the sun.
Bourjois Always Fabulous Stick Foundcealer | This is a new launch from Bourjois; a foundation and concealer in one, in a stick format. I’ve had a chance to use this a few times as both a concealer and for more all over coverage. Application is everything with this product. It’s ridiculously creamy so I find that it blends out best using finger tips, and then I like to apply a facial mist or setting spray followed by dabbing a damp beauty blender over my face to ensure that I end up with a natural finish. The coverage is medium but buildable. I’ve been using this most to cover up any lingering darkness in my inner corners. The finish is somewhere between a satin-matte look, so I prefer to apply this without powder. This is the kind of product that I think would be great to have in your handbag for on the go, however as an every day option, I’m much more likely reach for one of my favourite bases from Clinique or Estee Lauder instead.
NARS Kalahari Eyeshadow Palette | I’m always blown away by the formula, consistency, and pigmentation of NARS products. Eyeshadow palettes in particular are a pretty big weakness for me, and this is one of those products I bought an age back, and then sorta forgot about. After giving my makeup stash a declutter and refresh, I decided to include this in my every day beauty edit that I update once a month or so. And I’ve been loving it. The shadows pull a bit cooler but are such rich hues. A bronze-based brown with shimmer to it, and a rich brown-town burgundy. The two paired together make for such a simple but effective eye look.
Peter Thomas Roth Lashes To Die For Mascara | For days when I want natural but fluttery looking lashes, I’ve been reaching for this mascara. I actually forgot how low maintenance it was as it’s one of the few that I’ve tried which does flake or smudge on me (at least not during the colder months, anyway). Usually I’m not a fan of plastic wands however I don’t find that this one pricks my lash line. I love how the wand does a great job at coating every single one of my lashes, which keeping them separated and fanned out. Plus, there’s no fallout during application.
Bobbi Brown Crushed Liquid Lip (also here) | I have a staple stash of lip products I’m pretty loyal to, but I always enjoy the opportunity to try something new. These liquid lip glosses arrived in my mailbox recently, and I’ve been playing around with them on and off throughout the month. I’ve got two shades: ‘East Coast Slay’ which is a light nude, and ‘Yoosred’ which is a vibrant coral-pinky red. ‘East Coast Slay’ is definitely too light for me, but ‘Yoosred’ has surprised me as a wearable coral/pink alternative to my favourite red lipsticks. The formula is what really gets me though. It’s applied with a doe-foot applicator and has a creamy gloss like texture, without the stickiness. It feels really comfortable and hydrating on the lips and can be worn sheer or layered up for a punchier look. Definitely one I see myself reaching for regularly.
Clarins Joli Rouge Lacquers (also here)| The other new lip products I’ve been using this month are the Joli Rouge Lacquers from Clarins. I’m a big fan of the original Joli Rouge Lipstick line so was excited to trial these. These have the opacity of a lipstick, the shine of a gloss, and the comfort of a lip balm. I love the formula; it’s lightweight and creamy, and has a slightly wetter finish to what I’d expect from a lip balm. The colours in the range are really fun – my personal favourites are Nude Brick (which is a your-lips-but-better nude) and Spicy Chill (which is a punchy orange-based red).
Chanel Rouge Allure Lipstick in ‘Coromandel’ (also here)| Another one of those tried and true beauty staples I’ve had for a while, I’ve recently popped this red back on rotation. It pulls more to the neutral/cool-toned, and the deeper shade is a great option now that we’re officially in cold weather territory. This has a satin finish, and isn’t fully opaque – you need to layer it up to get that full rich colour on the lips. Again, another comfortable one to wear, and it feels pretty low maintenance as far as reds go.
What are your beauty favourites from the past month?
